At its session on 19 August, the Verkhovna Rada voted to appoint Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister. A total of 266 MPs voted in favour.
Before the vote, Andrii Sybiha addressed MPs. He said this is a decisive stage of the war, in which diplomacy takes on a particularly important role.
“There is nothing more important than ending the war,” the official said.
Sybiha listed the ministry’s recent achievements, including the opening of negotiating clusters with the EU.
“A great deal has been done over the past year. Despite all the challenges, we have maintained support, unlocked €90 billion, increased pressure on Russia, established a special tribunal, significantly expanded our diplomatic presence around the world and in international organisations, and opened the first clusters. But as long as the war continues, no effort can be considered sufficient. We clearly understand the challenges and know what needs to be done. Three key priorities: a just peace, the EU and NATO, and the global Ukrainian community,” the nominee said.
Sybiha said the Foreign Ministry will pursue a course of maximum pragmatism and a stronger economic focus in foreign policy. The top priority is strengthening Ukraine on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.
“And this is where diplomacy comes to the fore. US engagement, Europe’s active role, pressure on Moscow and strengthening Ukraine: new military support packages, a deterrence package, and scaling up the defence industry,” he said.
The most urgent task is strengthening air defence, particularly against ballistic threats. They want to involve allies as much as possible and ensure parity and superiority for the armed forces. A new geopolitical initiative—the Carpathian Initiative—will be launched.
The second priority is EU accession and integration with NATO. The goal is to open all clusters as quickly as possible.
“Next. Food exports in the Black Sea. We have already reached agreements with neighbours on transit, we are restoring the Solidarity Lanes, and we are looking for ways to protect freedom of navigation,” Andrii Sybiha said.
The third priority is the global Ukrainian community. Plans include preserving ties and identity and protecting the rights of Ukrainians abroad, strengthening presence and digitalisation.
Andrii Sybiha is Ukraine’s second foreign minister during the full-scale war. After the previous cabinet resigned, he led the ministry in an acting capacity.
The posts of foreign minister and defence minister fall under the president’s quota. Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not submit nominations for a month, until the Verkhovna Rada returned from its recess on 18 August.
Andrii Sybiha: Biography
He graduated from Lviv State University named after Ivan Franko, specialising in Law and International Relations.
In 1997, he began his career as an attaché, third secretary and second secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
From 1998, he served as second secretary and then first secretary for consular affairs at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland.
From December 2002, he served as first secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
From 2003, he served as acting head of a division and then head of a division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
From 2006, he served as deputy director of a department and head of a division, and later as deputy director of a department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
From 2008, he served as counsellor-envoy at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland.
From 2012, he served as acting director and then director of the Consular Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
From 2016, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Türkiye. On 19 May 2021, he was dismissed from the post by a decree of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
By a decree of the President of Ukraine on 31 May 2021, he was appointed deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
From 2021 to 2024, he served as deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
From 2024, he served as first deputy foreign minister of Ukraine.
On 5 September 2024, Andrii Sybiha was appointed the new foreign minister of Ukraine.
In 2025, he retained his position in the new government led by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and was reappointed as foreign minister of Ukraine.
On 14 July 2026, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted to dismiss the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine headed by Yuliia Svyrydenko.
On 17 July 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Andrii Sybiha as acting foreign minister of Ukraine.