During the Yalta European Strategy (YES-2024) conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga emphasized the importance of creating prerequisites for the return of Ukrainians who are currently abroad. He emphasized that for this it is necessary to provide basic conditions, such as medical care and housing.
The return of Ukrainians is on the agenda
"I think it's time to think about programs to return Ukrainians to Ukraine. Of course, the necessary prerequisites must be created for this in terms of security, medical care, housing availability, but this should be on the agenda," said Sybiga.
Supporting the idea of Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Sybiga added that the return of Ukrainians is an important issue that cannot be ignored.
Polish-Ukrainian military cooperation
The minister also drew attention to the Ukrainian-Polish project aimed at training a military unit, which Ukrainian citizens living abroad, in particular in Poland, can join. According to Sybiga, this is an important step for strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.
"They live abroad, but must voluntarily join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This would be extremely important, and it would strengthen our defense capability," the minister noted.
He also reminded that about 300,000 Ukrainian men of military age currently live in Poland, which emphasizes the importance of their participation in the mobilization and defense of Ukraine.
History of the YES conference
The Yalta European Strategy Conference (YES-2024), at which Sybiga spoke, took place on September 13 and 14 in Kyiv. This is already the 20th forum founded in 2004 by billionaire Viktor Pinchuk. The first meetings were held in the Livadia Palace in Yalta, but after the occupation of Crimea by Russia in 2013, the events were moved to Kyiv. The YES conference brings together Ukrainian and international politicians, experts, business and civil society leaders, providing a platform for discussing the future of Ukraine and Europe.
