Ukraine eyes greater diplomatic footprint in Africa, Zelensky saysYesterday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Friday that Kyiv would enhance its footprint in Africa subsequent 12 months by opening 10 new embassies and strengthening commerce ties with the continent.

Ukraine has been attempting to rally African international locations to its trigger because it fights off Russia’s full-scale invasion, partly by selling a humanitarian grain initiative to assist alleviate starvation in extremely weak international locations.

Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian agricultural exports by way of the Black Sea had sparked international grain and fertilizer shortages earlier this 12 months, endangering hundreds of thousands, earlier than a UN-brokered deal partially eased it in July.

“We’re overhauling relations with dozens of African international locations,” Mr. Zelensky advised a gathering of diplomats in Kyiv. “Subsequent 12 months we have to strengthen this.”

Apart from opening the brand new embassies, Mr. Zelensky stated, Ukraine would additionally intention to arrange commerce consultant places of work in a number of key hubs on the continent – which he described as a area “the place our pursuits are thus far represented lower than we want”.

He didn’t specify through which international locations these new embassies or commerce places of work could be positioned, however added that he would really like Ukraine to ultimately be represented in 30 international locations on the continent.