29 may The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine held a Government Question Hour focused on the implementation of Ukraine’s foreign policy under martial law. At the request of parliamentary factions and groups, members of the Cabinet of Ministers answered questions from Members of Parliament on international support for Ukraine, peace efforts, pressure on Russia, European and Euro-Atlantic integration, protection of Ukrainians abroad, and new formats of wartime diplomacy.
The parliamentary sitting was held in an open format. For that reason, before the discussion began, special attention was drawn to the need not to disclose information that could harm Ukraine’s national security, reveal state secrets, or involve other restricted information. This became an important framework for the debate: parliamentary scrutiny in wartime must remain open to society, but it must also be responsible before the state, the Armed Forces, and Ukrainian citizens.
Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha addressed the Parliament. He presented Ukraine’s foreign policy not as a set of diplomatic statements, but as part of the country’s wartime resilience. According to the Minister, the renewed structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the work of the Ukrainian diplomatic service are subordinated to the realities of war, while Ukraine today acts as a proactive, capable and sovereign international player.
Ukraine’s wartime diplomacy is measured not only by statements, but by concrete results: defence packages, new coalitions, support for EU and NATO integration, pressure on the aggressor, and protection of Ukrainian citizens around the world.
The Minister placed particular emphasis on the fact that Ukrainian diplomacy works around the clock and must deliver practical results for defence, the economy and Ukraine’s international position. As an example, he referred to the agreements reached during the President of Ukraine’s visit to Sweden, including a new defence package and the supply of Gripen fighter aircraft. In the logic of the report, this was presented as an example of effective security guarantees: diplomacy that directly strengthens Ukraine on the battlefield, in the air and at the negotiating table.
Three dimensions of wartime diplomacy
The Minister outlined three key areas of Ukraine’s foreign policy work: peace efforts, pressure on the aggressor and asymmetric diplomacy. This triad formed the political core of the Government Question Hour.
In the section on peace efforts, Andrii Sybiha stressed that Ukraine would not accept any formulas involving concessions on sovereignty or territorial integrity. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia is not demonstrating readiness for genuine diplomacy. Instead, it is intensifying terror, issuing ultimatums and attempting to impose conditions incompatible with international law and Ukraine’s national interests.
Ukraine’s position, as presented during the report, is that a cessation of hostilities along the line of contact could open the way to broader negotiations. At the same time, diplomatic efforts cannot replace defence. The strength of the Ukrainian army, the resilience of society and the support of partners remain the foundation of any negotiating position Ukraine may hold.
Peace efforts without concessions on sovereignty
The format of peace efforts was addressed separately. According to the Minister, the trilateral format at the level of delegations has effectively reached the limits of its effectiveness, which makes a political-level meeting of leaders necessary. At the same time, Ukraine sees an opportunity to strengthen Europe’s role — not as an alternative to the American track, but as its practical complement.
In Ukraine’s diplomatic logic, European partners could focus on concrete issues: stopping attacks on seaports, energy infrastructure and water supply systems; nuclear safety; the situation around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant; the return of civilian hostages; humanitarian corridors; and other practical mechanisms to reduce harm to the civilian population.
This approach moves the discussion of peace away from abstract declarations and towards specific decisions that can save lives and reduce the cost of war for civilians.
Pressure on the aggressor as a condition for peace
The second part of the report focused on pressure on the aggressor. The Minister stressed that Ukraine, together with its partners, is working to steadily increase the cost of war for Russia. This includes sanctions, depriving the Russian war machine of resources, the use of frozen Russian assets, international isolation, accountability mechanisms, a special tribunal, a register of damages and compensation instruments.
The same context included the return of abducted Ukrainian children, exchanges of prisoners of war, support for Ukrainian citizens held in captivity, new defence packages, investment in Ukraine’s defence-industrial complex, strengthening air defence and protection against ballistic threats. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these are not separate episodes. They form a single system of pressure intended to force the aggressor to end the war.
Another important political signal was that European integration was presented not only as Ukraine’s strategic goal, but also as an instrument of strengthening the state during the war. The Minister thanked the Verkhovna Rada for adopting the necessary European integration legislation, stressing that every successful vote strengthens Ukraine’s diplomatic position in international negotiations.
Asymmetric diplomacy and new markets for Ukraine
The third area — asymmetric diplomacy — was the most dynamic part of the Minister’s report. It refers to Ukraine’s ability to act where Russia once sought to dominate and to turn crises into opportunities. The report mentioned the Middle East, Syria, the Gulf states, Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, as well as new approaches to the Arctic, Antarctica and the World Ocean.
According to the Minister, Ukraine is expanding its diplomatic presence, opening new opportunities for Ukrainian business, promoting exports, attracting investment and offering partners its own security experience. This marks an important shift in logic: Ukraine no longer acts only as a state in need of assistance. Increasingly, it positions itself as a partner with unique expertise, battlefield experience, technological solutions and the ability to contribute to regional security.
The Minister also highlighted Ukraine’s work in Africa, where the country is increasing its diplomatic presence and countering Russian influence, as well as in Latin America, Central Asia and the South Caucasus. In these regions, Ukrainian diplomacy seeks not only to speak about the war, but also to build long-term political, economic and humanitarian ties.
The Belarus track and European integration
The report also touched upon the Belarusian direction. Ukraine demonstrates that it does not deal only with the Lukashenko regime, but also engages with Belarusian democratic forces. The invitation of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to Kyiv and the appointment of an ambassador-at-large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for this area indicate an attempt to make Ukraine’s policy towards Belarus more systematic.
In the broader European context, it was underlined that Moscow is losing influence in regions where it previously tried to act through political pressure, destabilisation and dependence on pro-Russian allies. For Ukraine, this opens new diplomatic opportunities, but it also requires speed, professionalism and coordination between the President, the Government and the Parliament.
A separate human dimension of the report concerned Ukrainians abroad. The Minister referred to the automation of consular services, preparation of legislation for the introduction of multiple citizenship, preservation of the unity of the Ukrainian people, and the restoration of historical memory and justice. This is an important part of foreign policy, because millions of Ukrainians have found themselves outside the country because of the war, yet remain part of the Ukrainian political nation.
Regional dimension
For Ukrainian regions, this discussion has not only diplomatic but also practical significance. Ruslan Shamrin, deputy of the Kryvyi Rih City Council and member of the Standing Commission of the Kryvyi Rih City Council on the Implementation of the City Development Strategy and Investment, noted in a regional comment for ndu.kr.ua that foreign policy during wartime has a direct impact on local communities.
Defence packages, support for energy resilience, European integration, investment in Ukrainian industry and international pressure on the aggressor are not abstract diplomatic topics. They are factors that influence people’s security, the work of enterprises, preparation for winter and the ability of communities to withstand the consequences of war.
Why it matters
The Government Question Hour showed that Ukraine’s foreign policy under martial law has become one of the central areas of parliamentary scrutiny. It covers not only negotiations, sanctions and international statements, but also the defence of the skies, the return of prisoners, protection of children, work with Ukrainians abroad, opening markets for business and shaping a new security architecture.
The main conclusion of the discussion is that Ukrainian diplomacy can no longer be passive or merely reactive. In a war of endurance, foreign policy becomes a continuation of defence, the economy and the internal resilience of the state.
That is why parliamentary oversight of foreign policy results is not merely a procedure. It is part of Ukraine’s democratic capacity to win, protect its citizens and restore a just peace.
