site.btaForeign Ministers of Ukraine, Benelux Countries Hold Multilateral Talks in Odesa

Multilateral talks took place in Odesa between Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and his counterparts from the Benelux countries, Odesa Regional Military Administration head Oleh Kiper said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. The talks brought together Belgium Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, and Director-General for European Affairs at The Netherlands Foreign Ministry, Heleen Bakker.

The visit started with a ceremony honouring fallen Ukrainian soldiers. The diplomats were then briefed on the aftermath of Russian attacks on the Port of Odesa and visited a destroyed energy facility.

According to Kiper, the outcome of the meeting marks the launch of a new format of cooperation between Ukraine and the Benelux countries, a format that symbolizes European unity and represents another step in deepening the partnership between the countries.

Kiper thanked the Benelux countries for their political, humanitarian and military support, as well as for backing Ukraine's aspirations for EU and NATO membership. He noted that the Odesa region has become a platform for initiating this new format of Ukraine–Benelux cooperation. 

The ministers also inspected the building of the Odesa Marine Terminal, which was damaged in a Russian missile strike in September 2023, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported on its official website. 

Oleksandr Semyrha, head of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority, said that Kyiv’s European partners highly appreciated the country’s efforts to maintain and develop port operations and to ensure the stability of the Ukrainian corridor. “It is important for Ukrainian ports to feel the attention and support of international partners. The visit of the foreign ministers of Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg to Odesa is a clear signal of solidarity,” he said.

“Despite more than 450 attacks on our port infrastructure, we continue to operate and supply Ukrainian grain and other goods to the world. Every ship that departs from a Ukrainian port is a symbol of resilience and of our contribution to global food security,” Semyrha added.