Bishkek, Feb. 26, 2026 /Kabar/. EU Special Envoy for Sanctions David O’Sullivan said he was pleased to return to Kyrgyzstan, highlighting the importance of the European Union’s long-standing partnership with the country.
“I am delighted to be in Kyrgyzstan. This is my second visit; I was last here in 2023,” O’Sullivan said during a press briefing in Bishkek.
He emphasized that the European Union greatly values its relationship with Kyrgyzstan. According to the envoy, a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed last year, while bilateral trade between the EU and Kyrgyzstan has reached approximately €3 billion.
O’Sullivan also noted the EU’s substantial financial support to the country over the past decades.
“Since 1991, the European Union has provided around €600 million in grants to Kyrgyzstan, in addition to nearly €1 billion in loans—most notably in support of a very important hydropower project,” he said.
At the same time, the envoy clarified that his specific mandate relates to EU sanctions policy toward Russia.
“My specific responsibility, however, concerns sanctions against Russia. In this context, there are one or two issues that we need to discuss with our Kyrgyz colleagues,” O’Sullivan stated.