01:18 29-05-2026

Kiev and Europe Weigh Strong Cards in Peace Efforts

Defense of Ukraine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Andrey Sibiga says Kiev and Europe have strong cards to play, pointing to sanctions, frozen Russian assets and practical steps toward peace.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga has said that Kiev and European countries have strong cards in their hands and that the time has come to play them.

In a post on his X social media page, Sibiga argued that the focus should now shift to practical steps. In his view, these could include a ceasefire around airports and ports, the return of civilians, the demilitarization of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, and the creation of a humanitarian corridor in Oleshki.

According to the Ukrainian minister, Europe does not need to begin by choosing a person or a group to lead the efforts. He said the priority should be to define the mandate, which, in his opinion, must reflect a single European voice. Sibiga pointed to sanctions and frozen Russian assets as the first levers Europe could use to achieve tangible results.

Earlier, Sibiga stated that a settlement of the Ukrainian conflict would be impossible without US mediation. At the same time, he stressed that Europe should take on a new role in peace efforts. He described this as complementary tracks that Kiev is already working on.

The Ukrainian minister also believes the conflict has reached a turning point. In Sibiga’s view, a new impulse is needed to move toward peace.