MFA: Sybiha to hold talks with several partners in France, hopes to meet Saudi FM

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy did not announce any specific arrangements regarding Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha’s planned bilateral talks with his counterparts on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, but did not rule out a meeting with the U.S. secretary of state and the Saudi foreign minister.

"Specific bilateral talks are being worked out, a number of meetings in France," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, responding to a question from an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent about Sybiha’s planned meeting with Rubio on the sidelines of the G7 meeting.

Tykhy did not name the specific talks the Ukrainian foreign minister is expected to hold with colleagues in France, saying that "at such events, ministers’ schedules are a separate art form that has to be synchronized."

"So I am wary of making announcements," the spokesperson said.

He added that various meetings with partners are being worked out.

"There will probably be an opportunity to meet with the U.S. secretary of state. We are always interested in Ukraine-U.S. contacts. I will not make any specific announcements yet," Tykhy said.

He also said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud would be in Paris for the meeting.

"We are interested in a bilateral meeting between Ukraine and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We expect it to take place, if the ministers’ schedules do not change. In addition, there will soon be more contacts at all levels between Ukraine and the Gulf states, where areas of mutual partnership will certainly be discussed," Tykhy said.

At the briefing, the spokesperson confirmed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha would visit France this week to take part in the meeting of G7 foreign ministers.

Earlier, the U.S. State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to Cernay-la-Ville, France, on March 27 to advance key U.S. interests at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting.

The Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting is scheduled for March 26-27 at the Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay near Paris.