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.