By KYIV. May 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, in his address on the occasion of Africa Day and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization of African Unity, called for the reform of international organizations and the inclusion of the African Union among the permanent members of the G20.
“Our united voice should be strong in all international fora and within international organizations. And if they need to be reformed for that, including the UN Security Council, then we need to do so. We call for a more representative and democratic Security Council in which Africa, like all other world regions, will be represented. Ukraine also supports the idea of the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20,” Kuleba said, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry (MFA) said.
He said despite the geographical remoteness, Ukraine and Africa have deep historical ties.
“We have always shared and supported the aspirations of African nations towards independence, unity, and progress. As a co-founder of the United Nations, Ukraine has consistently defended and promoted the interests of African nations within the UN. Over many decades, Ukrainian specialists from various fields helped construct hundreds of infrastructure facilities in dozens of African countries. Processing plants, hydroelectric power stations, ports, bridges, roads, hospitals, and schools,” Kuleba said.
He also said Ukraine proud to host thousands of African students. Many of them have become prominent political, business, and social leaders in their nations and will be happy to welcome more young Africans who want to study and work in Ukraine.
“Today, Ukraine is reinvigorating its foreign policy toward Africa aimed at a Ukrainian-African renaissance. We have recently adopted our first African strategy and intensified our political dialogue with many countries on the continent. This year, we are going to establish new embassies in different parts of the continent and plan to hold the first Ukraine-Africa Summit. I invite the leaders of your countries to take part in this important event. We want to develop a new quality of partnership based on three mutual principles: mutual respect, mutual interests, and mutual benefits,” the minister said.
Separately, he said despite the fact that Ukraine has been waging a defensive war for its freedom and independence against Russian invaders for more than a year, the country is making every effort to maintain its role as a guarantor of food security in Africa and many other regions of the world.
“Despite Russia’s naval blockade of our sea ports, we have managed to partially unblock Ukrainian exports with the help of the UN and Turkiye. We have actively defended the initiative from Russian attempts to ruin it ever since. Its latest extension was a sign of relief both for our farmers and our customers abroad, including in Africa. Within the initiative, an overall of 123 ships with more than 3 million tons of agricultural products have already been sent to the countries in Africa: Ethiopia, Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, Tunisia, Somalia, and Algeria,” Kuleba said.
In addition, Ukraine continues to provide humanitarian assistance under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Grain from Ukraine program.
“We have already sent six ships with a cargo of 170,000 tonnes of wheat to Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen within this program. More ships are being prepared. No family in Africa should suffer because of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the minister said.
No other nation in the world wants peace the way Ukraine wants it, Kuleba said.
“But we know that real peace needs to be just and sustainable. We are open to discussing any peace initiative if it respects two principles: does not suggest territorial concessions and does not lead to a frozen conflict instead of peace. Ukraine has a clear plan in this regard. It is called President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula. This war is happening on Ukraine’s soil, so we consider it natural that a Ukrainian peace plan should be at the core of the peace effort. We invite African countries to join the implementation of the formula,” he said.
The minister said that by working together and supporting each other, countries can achieve a lot.
“By talking to each other as equals and with respect, we can understand each other better. This is why I am here, in Africa. To talk directly, without intermediaries. To treat each other individually, not as abstract regions or numbers on the voting screen of the General Assembly. I am confident that in such a respectful manner we will be able to form new kinds of relationships and realize the full potential of a Ukrainian-African Renaissance for the benefit of all of our nations,” he said.
