On Wednesday, May 27, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha participated in an informal Gymnich meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Limassol, Republic of Cyprus.

The central topics of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister’s participation were the strengthening of Europe’s role in peace efforts, Ukraine’s progress on the path to EU accession and the opening of negotiation clusters, strengthening sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation, and ensuring Ukraine’s defense needs.

“Ukraine has the cards. Europe has the cards. We have a strong position. The time has come to play it. While the dynamics of the war are changing and Ukraine’s asymmetric strategy is yielding results, Europe must act decisively and bring peace closer now – as a complement to the main negotiating track under US leadership”, Andrii Sybiha noted.

The Minister emphasized that the partners should start with tangible and realistic steps: a ceasefire regarding airports, seaports, the return of civilian hostages, the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the creation of a humanitarian corridor from the occupied Oleshky in the Kherson region, where people have been left without food, water and medicine for weeks.

“We do not need to start by choosing a person or group to lead these efforts. We need to clearly define the mandate – and it should represent the single voice of Europe. Europe has the leverage to achieve tangible results – primarily sanctions and frozen Russian assets”, he noted.

The Foreign Minister also called on his colleagues to immediately decide on the opening of all six negotiation clusters for Ukraine in June. According to the Minister, Ukrainians need and deserve this recognition. Ukraine needs the EU - and the EU needs Ukraine.

Andrii Sybiha also stressed that the new and promising dynamics of bilateral relations with Hungary open a window of opportunity, and European allies cannot afford to lose it.

“I thanked my colleagues for their resilience in the face of Russian threats against foreign diplomats in Kyiv. Perhaps such intimidation worked many years ago. But no more. Europe has changed. Europe has leverage. Europe must act”, the Foreign Minister emphasized.