Jaishankar meets Ukrainian FM Andrii Sybiha; discusses Ukraine conflict, bilateral cooperation
Nicosia, May 28
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha as he arrived in Cyprus to participate in the 'Gymnich' informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers.
In a post on X, Jaishankar shared that he exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict with the Ukrainian counterpart and discussed bilateral cooperation.
"A useful meeting with FM Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine. Exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict. Also discussed our bilateral cooperation," he said.
He also met with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and discussed the West Asia conflict.
"A good meeting with FM Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. Appreciate his assessments and insights on the evolving situation in West Asia/Middle East," he said.
Jaishankar arrived in Cyprus to participate in the Informal Meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers at the invitation of Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas.
Jaishankar made a quick stopover at Frankfurt Airport, enroute to Cyprus for the meeting. He was warmly received by India's Ambassador to Germany, Ajit V Gupte.
The meeting, which took place as the EAM transited through Germany on his way to Cyprus for the European Union Foreign Ministers' (EU FM) meeting, served as a vital platform for reviewing the trajectory of bilateral relations.
During the brief but productive interaction, in a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Germany stated that Ambassador Gupte provided the EAM with a comprehensive briefing on the current state of India-Germany relations.
Kaja Kallas travelled to Cyprus on May 27-28 to chair the traditional 'Gymnich' informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers. The meeting will be hosted by Cyprus in the city of Limassol.
EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs will meet for an informal Foreign Affairs Council on 27-28 May 2026 in Lemesos.
The Gymnich meeting of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union by Cyprus is co-chaired by Dr Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, and Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
During the meeting, Ministers will discuss current and regional issues.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While it's important to discuss the Ukraine conflict, I hope our government also prioritises pressing issues like the border situation with China. Both need equal attention. 🤔
Finally, India is being taken seriously in Europe. The meeting at Frankfurt airport with our ambassador shows how global diplomacy works even during transit. Well done!
As a foreigner living in India, I appreciate how India balances relationships with both Russia and Ukraine. It's a tricky tightrope but Jaishankar handles it well. 🙌
Good to see India engaging with both sides. But we should also remember our own strategic interests - energy security and trade with Russia remain crucial. Hope those are discussed too.
Impressive diplomatic multitasking by Jaishankar - discussing Ukraine with Sybiha, West Asia with Saudi FM, all while transiting through Germany. India's foreign policy is truly becoming global.
It's reassuring that India is part of these informal EU meetings. But I wish the government would share more details about what "bilateral cooperation" actually means for common people like us.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.