On Friday, April 17, as part of the 5th Antalya Diplomatic Forum, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha took part in the ADF Talks public discussion.

The main topics of the minister’s participation in the forum included advancing peace efforts, keeping Ukraine in the international spotlight, meetings with colleagues from Africa and other regions of the world, as well as discussions on the bilateral agenda with Türkiye.

Andrii Sybiha stated that over the past year, Ukraine has grown stronger and consolidated its positions on the battlefield, in the economy, and in diplomacy, and has also become a global power in the field of unmanned technologies. “Russian ports can attest to the effectiveness of Ukraine’s actions: Russia must feel the war”, the Foreign Minister emphasized.

The minister outlined three elements that reflect the current situation on the battlefield: Ukraine is holding the front line, attempting to close the skies, and acting asymmetrically against Russia. According to him, numerical superiority in manpower is gradually losing its decisive significance due to the use of unmanned technologies.

“We are capable of doubling defense production provided we attract sufficient additional investment. This applies both to our resilience and resistance and to strengthening our negotiating positions,” Andrii Sybiha noted.

The Foreign Minister stated that Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire. He noted that the only way to accelerate peace efforts is to increase pressure on Moscow. Putin must realize that he will never achieve his goals on the battlefield.

“We must impose a ban on entry into Europe and the transatlantic space for Russian combatants who participated in the aggression against Ukraine,” he said.

The head of the Foreign Ministry drew particular attention to illegal Russian recruitment companies. According to him, Russia, having lost a significant number of troops, has launched illegal campaigns to recruit foreigners, primarily in Africa and Asia. “More than 300 foreign prisoners of war who fought on the side of the Russian Federation are currently in Ukrainian captivity.”

The minister emphasized that Russia has become an exporter of destabilization in various regions of the world, particularly in the Middle East. For Moscow, this also presents an opportunity to profit from the tragedies unfolding in the region.

In the context of the parliamentary elections in Hungary, Andrii Sybiha noted that after years of provocations by the Orbán regime, Ukraine now has an opportunity to accelerate its path toward Europe, officially launch six clusters, unlock a €90 billion EU loan, and push forward the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.

“The failure of anti-Ukrainian rhetoric during the elections in Hungary served as a signal to similar political forces in other countries that such rhetoric does not work,” he emphasized.

According to the minister, the Ukrainian side has signaled to its Hungarian partners its readiness for high-level contacts.

The Foreign Minister separately expressed hope that Ireland’s EU presidency, beginning July 1, will be historic in terms of enlargement—not only for Ukraine, but also for Moldova and the Western Balkans.

Touching on the topic of the peace process, Andrii Sybiha noted that the negotiating teams are in constant contact. The Ukrainian side is awaiting a visit from an American delegation to discuss ways to move forward in this direction.

“The most difficult period in our bilateral diplomatic track with the United States is now behind us. We have managed to resolve it in an appropriate and pragmatic manner, with respect for each other’s positions. Ukraine truly holds the cards,” the minister emphasized, noting Washington’s efforts to bring about a just and comprehensive peace.

Andrii Sybiha stated Ukraine’s readiness for a meeting of leaders in Türkiye in the format of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin, with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump. The minister added that the Ukrainian side had conveyed this message to its Turkish partners and also noted Türkiye’s important role in the peace efforts.