Ukraine's foreign minister: In less than two years, we've gone from "You don't have the cards" to "Don't play your cards"

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has outlined the key priorities for achieving a just and lasting peace and spoken about the risks that Russian aggression poses to the rest of the world and the importance of strengthening European security.

Source: Andrii Sybiha speaking at a panel discussion titled "What Comes After the Liberal World Order?" at the 13th Warsaw Security Forum, as reported by the Foreign Ministry press service

Details: Sybiha stressed the need to further shore up Ukraine's defence capabilities and increase international support to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

"In less than two years we've gone from 'You don't have the cards' to 'Don't play your cards.' This is an achievement," Sybiha noted.

The minister stressed that strengthening air defence remains one of Ukraine's main priorities. Ukraine needs air defence systems, interceptor missiles and various types of ammunition, including for F-16 fighter jets, which have proven their effectiveness in countering Russian strike drones.

Sybiha highlighted the need to ensure unwavering international support for Ukraine, in particular by attracting new aid packages and covering the funding gap for defence needs. He noted that Ukraine is actively working with its international partners to achieve these objectives.

Ukraine's EU membership aspirations were a key point of discussion. Sybiha expressed hope that two more accession negotiating clusters will be opened soon.

Speaking about the present-day international order, Sybiha noted that the only ideology that truly works is realism. He stressed that the fight for freedom is currently taking place on the front line in Ukraine, and that countering Russian aggression is crucial for the future of European and global security.

Quote: "The future of Europe and the global security architecture is now being decided in Ukraine."

Background:

• In January, US President Donald Trump said he is the only trump card Zelenskyy has and that without him there would have been a "total disaster".
• At the time, Trump said: "Well, he doesn't have the cards. He didn't – he didn't have the cards from Day 1 [of Russia's full-scale invasion – ed.]."
• In a March interview with Irish blogger Caolan Robertson, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine now has "cards" thanks to the Ukrainian military and the industries launched since Russia's full-scale invasion.
• In October, US President Donald Trump decided to strike a deal with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel fuel to the United States because Ukraine refused to unilaterally halt its attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.