Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires Discusses War Situation & Luxembourg’s Continued Support

As the war in Ukraine continues into its fourth year, Luxembourg remains a committed supporter of the country, providing sustained military, political and humanitarian assistance.

From early defence aid to participation in international coalitions and demining efforts, Luxembourg has played a consistent and active role in backing Ukraine’s sovereignty and resilience.

To learn more about the current situation on the ground and ongoing cooperation between the two countries, Chronicle.lu spoke with the Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Natalia Anoshyna, on Tuesday 8 July 2025.

Chronicle.lu: How would you describe the situation on the ground in Ukraine as of early July 2025?

Natalia Anoshyna: Russia has significantly intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities. There are daily large-scale strikes on populated areas. We clearly recall the horrific night of Friday 4 to Saturday 5 July 2025, when Russia launched around 550 drones and various types of missiles with the sole objective of killing Ukrainians and destroying Ukrainian cities. This is further evidence that Russia is not merely a state but a terrorist state, deliberately prolonging the war. Russia’s goal is to increase the scale of these attacks, potentially reaching up to 1,000 in one night. The ultimate aim is to destroy Ukraine. But we will not allow this to happen.

Chronicle.lu: How have Ukraine-US relations evolved recently, and how do you hope they will develop in the coming months?

Natalia Anoshyna: Our priority is military support from the United States, and we are seeing that support continue. This was reaffirmed during a recent phone call between President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, in which the continuation of US military assistance was clearly confirmed. One of the key topics discussed was the protection of Ukrainian airspace, particularly air defence systems, including the need for Patriot systems and missiles. Military-industrial cooperation between the two countries was also addressed. We have a long-standing strategic partnership with the United States based on an established agreement.

Chronicle.lu: Do you still see realistic prospects for peace negotiations with Russia, or has Ukraine's approach changed since the spring?

Natalia Anoshyna: Ukraine continues to pursue every possible diplomatic means to end the war. No country is more interested in ending this war than Ukraine. We initiated the first Peace Summit with this goal in mind. However, Russia did not attend and has repeatedly shown no willingness to engage, despite Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Istanbul and other locations. In response, Russia has only intensified its aggression. That said, the negotiations in Istanbul did result in a significant outcome: the exchange of prisoners of war. A 1,000-for-1,000 format was proposed and many Ukrainians were returned home. These individuals had suffered greatly in captivity - not only physical deterioration but also psychological abuse. Still, Ukrainians are resilient and no matter how hard Russia tries, it will not break us.

Chronicle.lu: How would you assess current levels of support from the United States and the European Union? Do you sense any "war fatigue" among Ukraine's international partners? How is the Ukrainian government addressing this?

Natalia Anoshyna: Support will be sufficient only when Ukraine wins. That is the real indication of meaningful backing - helping us to achieve victory. Victory means the return of all our territories, the release of prisoners of war, the return of civilians held in Russian prisons and torture chambers, the return of abducted Ukrainian children and justice for Russian war crimes. It also includes sustained economic pressure on Russia to ensure accountability. In my work with Luxembourg and Belgium, I can say that I have never encountered any sign of “Ukraine fatigue”, neither from governments nor from citizens. On the contrary, I hear constant messages of solidarity. People say: “We are with Ukraine. You must win.” This strong support is evident both at the state level and through participation in international formats, summits and conferences. Countries are actively contributing and taking part in new coalitions and initiatives in support of Ukraine.

Chronicle.lu: What role is Luxembourg currently playing in supporting Ukraine (politically, militarily, through humanitarian aid)?

Natalia Anoshyna: Recently, under Luxembourg’s presidency [of the Council of Europe], a special tribunal was established to address the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine - for which we are very grateful. Luxembourg was also one of the first country to provide military assistance to Ukraine. Despite having limited armed forces and no domestic production, Luxembourg responded swiftly, providing us with high-quality, modern military equipment. To this day, all military aid from Luxembourg has been delivered without delay, which is critical for our soldiers on the front line. Additionally, Luxembourg has allocated funds for energy support and provided 110 humanitarian demining kits worth €1 million. Military aid initially amounted to €80 million, but this has now been increased to €120 million. Luxembourg is also part of four important international coalitions: it is a co-founder of the IT coalition, a recent member of the drone coalition, and also participates in the artillery and air defence coalitions.

Chronicle.lu: Please tell us about the current situation of the Ukrainian diaspora in Luxembourg and Belgium. Has the number of refugees / temporary protection beneficiaries changed?

Natalia Anoshyna: We are extremely grateful to Luxembourg for the warm welcome extended to Ukrainians since the start of the war. Since then, over 6,500 Ukrainians have been received. This number changes over time - some people have returned to Ukraine, others moved to different countries and some have obtained new legal statuses. As for temporary protection, Luxembourg has provided very favourable conditions, including temporary accommodation, access to healthcare and employment support.

Chronicle.lu: What are the main challenges facing Ukrainians in these two countries? How is the embassy – but also the respective governments – supporting their needs?

Natalia Anoshyna: After three and a half years of war, some Ukrainians have returned home, others have relocated, while many have settled, found jobs and are now financially independent. However, housing remains a challenge. This is not unique to Luxembourg, it is a global issue. No country anticipated a full-scale war or the need to accommodate millions of displaced Ukrainians. Nevertheless, the authorities are doing everything possible. The embassy remains in close contact with relevant ministries and institutions to address migration and integration issues and to ensure Ukrainian nationals experience as little hardship as possible.

Chronicle.lu: What message would you like to share with the international community and the people of Luxembourg today?

Natalia Anoshyna: I want to begin by expressing our gratitude to Luxembourg, its government, parliament, ministries and local authorities, for the support provided since day one of the war. Luxembourg acted swiftly and without bureaucratic delays, offering military assistance in the early days. It has also proven to be one of the most welcoming and open countries for Ukrainians, providing shelter and demonstrating solidarity. We are truly grateful for Luxembourg’s support, care and unwavering commitment to Ukraine.