Acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has publicly stated that Kyiv is committed to avoiding any "unnecessary escalation" with Iran. The declaration followed a direct telephone conversation between Sybiha and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a dialogue the Ukrainian official described as "frank." Emphasizing the importance of direct communication during challenging periods, Sybiha stressed that Ukraine's primary objective remains the defense of its territory against Russian aggression.
Addressing the recent incident in the Caspian Sea, where an Iranian commercial vessel was struck, resulting in one sailor's death and another's injury, Sybiha clarified that Ukraine’s military operations are aimed solely at Russian targets and are never intended to harm civilian vessels or individuals. He further asserted that Russia is the root cause of such incidents and bears full responsibility for the resulting casualties and provocations. Sybiha urged that all parties should refrain from escalatory actions and called for an end to any support for Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, reiterating that both Europe and the Middle East deserve peace and security.
The diplomatic outreach follows reports that Ukrainian forces had targeted vessels involved in military cargo shipments linked to Iran, though President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not identify specific ships during his remarks. For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the discussion in a post on X, noting that Sybiha provided assurances that the attack on the Iranian vessel was "not deliberate" and "unintentional." While Araghchi stated that Iran also does not seek further escalation, he emphasized that attacks against Iranian citizens or national interests are unacceptable and insisted that there must be restitution for the losses incurred.
