Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Europe must act decisively and bring peace closer through concrete steps, as well as open negotiation clusters for Ukraine's accession to the EU in June, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported, according to UNN.
Ukraine has cards. Europe has cards. We have a strong position. It is time to play it. As the dynamics of the war change and Ukraine's asymmetric strategy yields results, it is precisely now that Europe must act decisively and bring peace closer — as a complement to the main negotiation track led by the US,
The central themes of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister's participation were strengthening Europe's role in peace efforts, Ukraine's progress toward EU accession and the opening of negotiation clusters, increasing sanctions pressure on the RF, and ensuring Ukraine's defense needs.
Europe's participation in bringing peace closer
The Minister emphasized that partners "must start with concrete and realistic steps: a ceasefire regarding airports and seaports, the return of civilian hostages, the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, and the creation of a humanitarian corridor from occupied Oleshky in the Kherson region, where people have been without food, water, and medicine for weeks."
"We do not need to start by choosing a person or a group to lead these efforts. We need to clearly define the mandate — and it must represent the unified voice of Europe. Europe has the leverage to achieve tangible results — primarily sanctions and frozen Russian assets," he emphasized.
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Opening of clusters
The Foreign Minister also called on his colleagues to decide now on opening 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.
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.
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