The Antalya Diplomacy Forum is getting underway in Turkey on April 11-13, focused on the restoration of diplomacy in a divided world. This year, it is attended by about twenty heads of state, over seventy ministerial rank officials, among them fifty ministers of foreign affairs, some six dozen high-level representatives of international organizations, in addition to over 4,000 guests.
At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum-2025, Ukraine is represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha. In addition to active bilateral meetings, negotiations, and multilateral contacts, Mr Sybiha spoke at a panel on European security and Ukraine’s role in its protection.
The minister sat down for a blitz interview with Ukrinform to brief about the results of the work done on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
THE WORLD IS FAVORING UKRAINE’S PRINCIPLE-BASED APPROACH TO ENDING THE WAR
– Mr. Minister, your visit to Turkey is wrapping up, as is the Anatolian Diplomatic Forum, where you had a very busy agenda. Would you tell us about the outcomes, the messages, and the feedback Ukraine has received?
– The key conclusion we can draw from the outcomes of bilateral and multilateral meetings as well as panel discussions is that everyone understands the need and importance of ending the war in Ukraine in a just manner. They are favoring the achievement of a comprehensive, just peace in Ukraine, the need to support Ukraine’s efforts on this path to ending this unprovoked war and bring Russian aggression to a stop.
I also clearly see and can place on record the importance and significance Ukraine has globally, that security in Ukraine, and the way this war on Ukraine will end, immediately affects the security situation in other regions of the world — in Africa, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific region. This all is interrelated. All the people I met and spoke to here recognize this, and I felt their support. This is support for our principle-based approach. Because we are defending, by and large, the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, territorial integrity and sovereignty, upholding the principles of international law.
UKRAINE IS BOLSTERING ITS VISIBILITY ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT
– You have had active contacts with senior leaders of African countries. What are our objectives to be achieved and prospects for cooperation with the countries of the Global South? What interest do we have in intensified and expanded cooperation?
– I held more than 20 meetings, mainly with the foreign ministers of African countries. They thanked us for demonstrating dignity, for upholding dignity, for our position that allows us to talk about dignity. I was pleased to hear that. And, of course, in addition to peace, which I discussed with each and all of my interlocutors, we talked about the prospects for bilateral relationships. We have enormous potential in Africa. Despite the war grinding on, we have opened embassies in nine countries there. We will increase our presence on the African continent, because it is mutually advantageous.
I am returning with a clear understanding of the specific areas that we will definitely intensify. Regarding specific results, it is also important that we have a decision by at least three African countries to cease accrediting their ambassadors through Moscow. This will be changed. This is a shameful practice. And, accordingly, the consequence will be the strengthening and intensification of our bilateral relationships.
UKRAINE WELCOMES TURKEY’S EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE PEACE
– At the beginning of the large-scale invasion, Turkey had employed the Anatolian Diplomatic Forum as a platform in an attempt to end the war. Ankara’s mediation efforts have been ongoing all these years and have had positive results (the Black Sea Grain Initiative, prisoner exchanges). Are we currently considering Turkey as a mediator, as a platform for negotiations and for work on a peace agreement?
– Turkey is one of our most important strategic partners. During the meetings with Turkish representatives, we discussed security in the Black Sea and, potentially, the involvement of Turkey in Ukraine’s future security infrastructure, in future security guarantees. We expect Turkey to continue playing an active role in supporting our peace efforts. We welcome these efforts. Turkey plays an extremely important role in the Black Sea region. Turkey helped us with the release of prisoners of war. This all remains on the agenda. Therefore, we will only deepen our bilateral relations with our strategic partner, Turkey.
RUSSIA’S ATTACKS FOLLOWING THE JEDDAH TALKS ARE ITS RESPONSE TO PEACE PROPOSALS
– At the start of your visit to Turkey, during a panel discussion on European security, you said that Ukraine seeks to end the war this year, to achieve a sustainable and just peace. How to implement this plan?
– We need to demand a clear response from Russia, an outright response to the proposals of the American side to establish a ceasefire as the first step towards ending the war. This must be demanded from Russia. And whenever we come and voice our position, our interlocutors support our approaches. They clearly see and understand that Ukraine is not an obstacle to achieving a just peace.
At Jeddah, we agreed to the proposal of the American side, but Russia responded by escalating attacks on civilian facilities in Ukraine, by intensifying its missile terror, including strikes on energy facilities. We have these statistics. Yesterday marked a month since the Jeddah meeting took place. After it, the Russians launched and deployed against Ukraine some 70 missiles, over 2,200 Shahed drones and more than 6,000 aerial bombs. This is the Russians’ response to all peace proposals. They are dragging out, manipulating, playing with partners to continue their aggression. We must stop them together.
Interviewed by Olha Budnyk, Antalya
Photo: AA, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry
Source: Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
