Parliament reconfirms Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister
Sybiha's reappointment was supported by 266 lawmakers, with 14 abstaining and none voting against it.
On August 19, Ukraine's parliament voted to reappoint Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister following a government reshuffle in July that officially removed him from the position. Sybiha, who has been serving as foreign minister since September 2024, was among the officials who lost their jobs under Ukrainian law once a new cabinet was approved on July 16. Unlike his predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov, Sybiha has remained in an acting capacity since then.
In his speech upon being reconfirmed, Sybiha outlined three key priorities for his foreign policy: securing a just peace, EU and NATO integration, and global Ukrainianism. The latter encompasses various aspects, including the appointment of ambassadors, strengthening the diplomatic corps, and protecting the rights of Ukrainians abroad.
Currently, Ukraine faces challenges with its diplomatic representation. U.S. Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna was fired by President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 3, amid corruption allegations. Additionally, the roles of Taras Kachka and Vsevolod Chentsov, who previously held ambassadorial positions to the EU and the U.S., respectively, are up for grabs.
Sybiha stressed the urgent need to restore exports of foodstuffs through the Black Sea, as Russian attacks have effectively halted maritime traffic into Ukrainian ports, threatening the harvest from reaching market. Ukraine has already agreed to transit with Moldova for grain exports, but discussions with Romania and the EU on further assistance are ongoing.
Despite the challenges, Sybiha expressed confidence in Ukraine's diplomatic efforts, stating that the nation is prepared for the task ahead.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
