Ukraine and Benelux Countries Launch New Political Format in Odesa to Boost Cooperation

Ukraine and the Benelux countries—Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—have inaugurated a new political and diplomatic platform, the Ukraine–Benelux format, during a meeting in Odesa, Andrii Sybiha announced on his official X account on August 26, 2025.

The initiative was unveiled in the presence of Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, and Heleen Bakker, Director General for European Cooperation at the Dutch Foreign Ministry. According to their joint statement, the new format is designed to strengthen political cooperation on the principles of equality, initiative, and ambition.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, condemning Russia’s war of aggression and stressing the need for a just and lasting peace based on international law. They also emphasized the importance of joint work on sanctions, accountability through the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, and Ukraine’s long-term recovery in areas such as infrastructure, green energy, and innovation.

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As part of the visit, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg pledged an additional €2 million (USD 2.2 million) to support the prosthetics centre at Odesa Medical University, a facility providing rehabilitation for those wounded in the war.

During their stay, the delegation paid tribute to fallen Ukrainians and inspected damage to port facilities and repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure, which served as a stark reminder of the consequences of Russian attacks.

“Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg are among the founding countries of the European Union. The Benelux union became a prototype of a future united Europe. Today, Ukraine is a symbol of the fight for this united Europe,” Sybiha said.

From Odesa, the partners sent what they described as a clear message: Ukraine and the Benelux countries stand united, resilient, and determined to work together for peace, justice, and a stronger Europe.

Earlier, it was reported that Germany committed $500 million to a third NATO-backed military aid package for Ukraine aimed at delivering critical military equipment and munitions to bolster defenses.

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