Sybiha gifts U.S. Secretary of State with icon painted on ammunition crate
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister assured during the negotiations that Ukraine is not an obstacle to peace.
March 11, 2025 – During peace negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha presented U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio with an icon of the Mother of God, painted on wooden boards from ammunition crates. Sybiha shared a photo of the gift on his Facebook page.
Sybiha wrote that "Ukraine is ready to move toward a just resolution of the war. Ukraine is not an obstacle to peace; it is a partner in its restoration."
The practice of painting icons on ammunition boxes became popular in Ukraine during the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO). After the full-scale invasion, several Ukrainian artists continued this artistic approach. Sybiha did not specify the artist behind the icon he gifted to the U.S. Secretary of State.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that President Zelensky had presented the Pope with an "icon" featuring an empty space instead of the Infant Jesus.
