On 24 June, the international community marks International Day of Women in Diplomacy. This day was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 2022, co-sponsored by Ukraine, which has consistently advocated for the recognition of women’s role on the international stage.

This day has a clear and important aim - to recognise and highlight the role of women in shaping the modern international agenda, one that takes into account the needs and voices of all social groups.

The experience of Ukraine, which has been facing military aggression from the Russian Federation since 2014, clearly demonstrates that women play a direct role in determining how the country overcomes such challenges. They ensure the functioning of state institutions, support communities, document war crimes, represent the country on the international stage and serve in the Defence Forces. Every day, women prove that they are capable of being the driving force behind diplomacy, security and peace.

For the Ministry, equality is not a mere formal norm, but a principle that guides the state’s approach to building a modern, inclusive society. It is one of the fundamental values that Ukrainian men and women are defending on the battlefield.

Ukraine consistently implements the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 ‘Women, Peace and Security’, reaffirming the core idea of this document: sustainable peace and security are impossible without the full participation of women.

In 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine joined the #HeForShe initiative. It consistently applies the principles of gender equality in its work and upholds high standards of equal opportunities, remaining one of the leading state institutions in Ukraine in the field of promoting gender equality.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the first among executive bodies to conduct its first gender audit in 2019, with the support of UN Women. In 2024, the Ministry carried out a second such audit, which confirmed a positive trend in the growing number of women in senior positions within the diplomatic service.

Today, 15 women hold positions at the level of department director or head of division within the Ministry’s central administration, accounting for 52 per cent. Twenty-eight female diplomats hold senior posts in Ukraine’s diplomatic missions abroad, 14 of whom are ambassadors, representing 17 per cent.

We are committed to the continuous renewal of Ukraine’s diplomatic service. Of the 57 staff members appointed to the diplomatic service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ central office in 2026, 32 are women, five of whom have taken up senior positions.

Today, female diplomats have become the true face of our foreign service, working on some of the most complex and strategically important international issues. They actively champion justice, reparations and support for those affected by the war, whilst helping to shape sanctions policy, advance efforts to hold the Russian Federation to account and strengthen international support for Ukraine.

Working in synergy with the First Lady Olena Zelenska Foundation, the MFA's Women's Diplomatic Club and the Association of Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats, led by Tetiana Sybiha, have pooled their efforts to consolidate critically needed resources for the country’s humanitarian recovery. Together, we are uniting the efforts of international partners to support affected communities, rebuild social infrastructure and bring our shared victory closer.

Women’s leadership is not merely a matter of equality. It is a matter of national resilience and democratic strength. As Ukraine continues its struggle for freedom, sovereignty and a just peace, women will remain at the forefront of our efforts - making decisions, defending and shaping our future.