Press Release- Hon. Foreign Minister Mr Shisir Khanal received a Telephone Call from Foreign Minister of Ukraine H. E. Mr Andrii Sybiha

Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Shisir Khanal received a telephone call from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, H. E. Mr Andrii Sybiha today. 

During the conversation, the two ministers held talks on Nepal-Ukraine relations and detention of Nepali nationals in Ukraine as Prisoners of War (POWs). 

Hon. Minister Khanal informed the Ukrainian counterpart that the Government of Nepal does not allow recruitment of Nepali citizens in any foreign army except in those countries with whom Nepal has traditional agreements. He strongly requested the Ukrainian Government to release and return, on humanitarian ground, all nine Nepali nationals taken into detention by the Ukrainian forces. H. E. Mr Sybiha assured Minister Khanal that the Ukrainian side is open to discuss on this issue. 

On the occasion, H. E. Mr Sybiha extended his warm congratulations to Hon. Minister Khanal on assumption of his office as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal and expressed his best wishes for a successful tenure. 

The two sides also expressed satisfaction over the excellent state of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing cooperation between the two countries across various sectors, including agriculture, tourism and education.

30 April 2026
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Singhadurbar, Kathmandu