Sybiha: The war’s dynamics are shifting, Ukraine’s asymmetric strategy yields results 28.05.2026 01:19 Ukrinform Andriy Sybiha participated in an informal meeting of the European Union foreign ministers in the “Gymnich” format, held in Limassol, Cyprus. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as conveyed by Ukrinform. As noted, the central themes of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister’s participation were strengthening Europe’s role in peace efforts, Ukraine’s progress towards the EU and the opening of negotiation clusters, enhancing 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. It’s time to play it. As the war’s dynamics are shifting and Ukraine’s asymmetric strategy is yielding results, it is precisely now that Europe must act decisively and bring peace closer – as a supplement to the main negotiation track led by the USA,” Sybiha stated. He emphasized that partners must begin with concrete and realistic steps: a ceasefire concerning airports and seaports, the return of civilian hostages, the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and 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 don’t need to start by choosing a person or group to lead these efforts. A clear mandate must be defined – and it must represent a unified voice of Europe. Europe has the leverage to achieve tangible results – primarily sanctions and frozen Russian assets,” the minister indicated. The Foreign Minister also urged his colleagues to make a decision now to open all six negotiation clusters for Ukraine in June. According to him, Ukrainians deserve this recognition; Ukraine needs the EU, and the EU needs Ukraine. Sybiha also stressed that the new and promising dynamic in bilateral relations with Hungary opens 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 directed at foreign diplomats in Kyiv. Perhaps such intimidation worked many years ago. But no more. Europe has changed. Europe has leverage. Europe must act,” declared the Foreign Minister. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the path to European Union membership and efforts to strengthen Ukrainian air defense with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Andriy Sybiha, Facebook European Integration European Union War Sybiha War with Russia