The ministry cited the opening of new embassies and consulates, numerous meetings with international leaders and partners, foreign visits to Ukraine, successful export of agricultural products, and the international isolation of Russia as key outcomes of their systematic efforts.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi engaged in approximately 250 meetings with representatives of foreign states, international organizations, the public, and foreign businesses, along with nearly 170 phone conversations. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba conducted 140 bilateral international meetings and about 90 phone discussions.
The year saw 190 high-level visits to Ukraine by foreign representatives, meaning that Ukraine welcomed world leaders and international delegates almost every other day.
Ukrainian diplomats, in collaboration with global partners, intensified sanctions pressure on Russia. In 2023, the United States introduced over 20 sanction packages against Russia and imposed additional customs tariffs on more than 570 Russian product groups. The European Union launched three new sanction packages against Russia on February 25, June 23, and December 18.
Moreover, the EU, the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and Japan imposed sanctions on numerous Russian individuals and entities.
Significantly, Russia lost its seats in the governing bodies of three major international organizations – the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, UNESCO, and the International Maritime Organization – for the first time since the Soviet era. In December, Russia was also removed from the Danube Commission, with the exit scheduled for February 29 of the following year.
Economically, Ukraine's diplomatic efforts resulted in opening 8 new markets for domestic products, the conclusion of over 70 cooperation contracts, and participation of more than 400 Ukrainian companies in over 80 foreign exhibitions.
Ukraine also expanded its global diplomatic presence by opening embassies in Ghana and Rwanda. Additionally, agreements were reached to open diplomatic missions in Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritania, Mozambique, and Sudan.
