Last update
Visit of Xavier Bettel and Yuriko Backes to Ukraine
On 30 April 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Xavier Bettel, together with the Minister of Defence, Yuriko Backes, undertook a working visit to Ukraine.
Gallery 1
-
(l. to r.) Xavier Bettel; Volodymyr Zelenskyy
© MAE
-
Group photo
© MAE
-
Xavier Bettel at the Wall of Remembrance
© MAE
-
Illustration photo
© MAE
-
( l. to r.) Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defence; Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine; Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs
© MAE
-
Illustration photo
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defence; Andriy Sybiha, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Ronald Dofing, Luxembourg Ambassador to Ukraine; Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defence; Andriy Sybiha, Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs
© MAE
-
Illustration photo
© MAE
-
Group photo
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine
© MAE
-
Illustration
© MAE
-
Ilya Emets, Director of the Scientific and Practical Centre for Paediatric Cardiology, and Xavier Bettel
© MAE
-
Group photo
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Xavier Bettel
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Andriy Sybiha, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defence
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Andriy Sybiha, Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs
© MAE
-
Group photo
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Yuriko Backes; Xavier Bettel
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Yuriko Backes, Xavier Bettel
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Andriy Sybiha, Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Xavier Bettel; Volodymyr Zelenskyy
© MAE
-
(l. to r.) Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defence
© MAE
-
Group photo
© MAE
-
Serhiy Milyutin, Deputy Mayor of Kyiv, with Xavier Bettel
© MAE
In Kyiv, the ministers held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov, and First Lady Olena Zelenska.
During these meetings, the ministers reaffirmed Luxembourg’s unwavering support to Ukraine in its defence against the Russian aggression — through military, political, humanitarian, and reconstruction support. Discussions centred on Ukraine’s current needs and how Luxembourg can continue to provide assistance. The ministers reiterated Luxembourg’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and expressed strong support for a just and lasting peace, on Ukraine's own terms.
Luxembourg announced an additional €21 million in support for Ukraine, comprising €10 million for the energy sector, €10 million in military assistance, and €1 million for the Olena Zelenska Foundation, to support mental health initiatives for children suffering from the psychological consequences of the war.
The programme also included visits to Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital, partially destroyed in Russian attacks in 2024, and to a district of Kyiv struck just last week — both highlighting the ongoing brutality of the Russian aggression and the profound human suffering it continues to cause. The ministers condemned the Russian attacks as blatant violations of international law, and emphasised the importance of combating impunity. Accompanied by Minister Sybiha, the delegation laid flowers at the foot of the Wall of Remembrance, in honour of the Ukrainians who have fallen during the war.
The ministers also visited the offices of Lux-Development in Kyiv, where they met with the Deputy Mayor of Kryvyi Rih, Sergii Miliutin, to discuss Luxembourg’s support for the city and district, particularly in the areas of education, vocational training, energy, and humanitarian demining.
Minister Bettel was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise by President Zelenskyy, in recognition of his commitment and contributions to Ukraine.
Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade