On Tuesday, April 21, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, participated via video link in the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
The Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to European partners for their support of Ukraine, specifically noting the recent visit to Kyiv. He urged the ministers of EU member states to unblock critical decisions as soon as possible: the €90 billion in support for Ukraine, the 20th EU sanctions package against the Russian Federation, and the opening of negotiation clusters.
“The €90 billion is an absolute priority. This step has already been agreed upon. It must be implemented because every day of delay causes harm. Currently, there are no obstacles; even the artificial barriers have been removed. The EU has the necessary tools to lift the blockade this very week. We count on their activation in the coming days,” the Ukrainian Foreign Minister stated.
The Minister separately emphasized the critical importance of the swift adoption of the 20th EU sanctions package against the RF, stressing that it must be as robust as possible to inflict maximum damage on Russia’s war budget.
“I will not grow tired of repeating that the EU does not adopt these critical decisions merely as a demonstration of solidarity with the Ukrainian people—it is a necessity for the direct protection of the European Union itself, its citizens, and its interests. Too many vital steps have been delayed for too long. All of this sends the wrong signals to Putin. The longer these steps take to adopt, the more hope he has of destroying the EU and harming its member states. Let us deprive him of that hope,” the Minister stressed.
The Foreign Minister confirmed the readiness of Ukraine and Moldova to open negotiation clusters and called for seizing the window of opportunity to officially launch the process. He emphasized that Ukraine remains committed to necessary reforms, recognizes the need to meet the criteria, and expects an approach based on a fair assessment of achievements.
During the meeting, the EU side specifically commended the progress of reforms that Ukraine has demonstrated recently.
“We are grateful for the efforts and achievements on the path to European integration during the EU Presidencies of Poland and Denmark. We expect that the Presidencies of Cyprus and Ireland will bring new historic steps and achievements in the process of EU enlargement,” noted Andrii Sybiha.
Furthermore, the Minister briefed his European colleagues on the situation on the battlefield. He reported on Ukraine’s successes, particularly in the long-range strike campaign against the RF, and underscored the need for increased investment in the Ukrainian defense industry, as well as the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense to protect against Russian strikes.
The Foreign Minister also focused on the dynamics of peace efforts, confirming Ukraine’s readiness for effective steps to end the war and the necessity of increasing pressure on Moscow to compel it toward constructive actions and real diplomacy, rather than ultimatums.
“I will repeat it once more: for real diplomacy, it is necessary for Ukraine to be in a position of strength. Every decision in support of our state and every increase in pressure on the RF strengthens our position. That is why it is so important to lift the blockade on critically necessary EU decisions now,” he declared.