Ukraine minister, Belgian guest meet in Kyiv air-raid shelter

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiga, and his Belgian counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot, held their meeting in an underground bomb shelter in Kyiv on Thursday. The session took place amidst the blare of air raid sirens, a stark reminder of the persistent threat of Russian aerial attacks on the capital.

Sybiga shared on social media that the meeting occurred in the basement shelter of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He described the situation as the "daily reality for millions of Ukrainians" that their Belgian guests were now experiencing firsthand. Photos accompanying his post showed the two officials seated at a table in the windowless room, along with members of their respective delegations.

The minister's remarks underscore the profound disruption the ongoing conflict has imposed on everyday life in Ukraine. The frequent use of air raid sirens and the necessity of seeking shelter have become routine for the population, including those conducting official state business. This situation has been ongoing since Russia's full-scale invasion began.

This is not the first time high-profile visitors have had to adjust their schedules due to air raid alerts. In July, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, was escorted to a shelter in Kyiv during her visit when sirens sounded, indicating an imminent Russian attack.

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Due to Russian drone attacks on our capital, we held our meeting underground in the MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] air-raid shelter, which is the daily reality for millions of Ukrainians that today's Belgian guests get to experience.