Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, declared that Kyiv would step up diplomatic efforts in Africa, Latin America, and Asia to gain from “colossal economic potential” and other global advantages.
As some nations, like South Africa, have close security and trade links with Russia that they do not wish to jeopardise, different African nations have responded differently to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy stated that diplomats would concentrate on nations where Ukraine has less power, particularly in the global South, in his nightly video address on Friday.
“There is colossal economic potential and considerable diplomatic avenues,” he said.
He singled highlighted votes from developing nations in favor of Ukraine at the UN General Assembly as it resists a 10-month Russian assault.
In order to achieve its objectives, Ukraine also wants to strengthen ties with its long-standing allies “to make next year the pivotal one in this fight.”
Zelenskyy had previously singled up efforts to deepen connections with Africa in his remarks to diplomats. Ukraine has been attempting to enlist the support of African nations by supporting a humanitarian grain project to help countries that are at risk of famine.
Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian agricultural exports through the Black Sea sparked global grain and fertilizer shortages this year, endangering millions before a U.N.-brokered deal partially eased it in July.
“We are overhauling relations with dozens of African countries,” Zelenskyy told the diplomats. “Next year we need to strengthen this.”
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine also desires to open commercial representation offices in a number of continent-wide centres.
He said that he wanted Ukraine to eventually have representation in 30 European nations, although he did not say where those new embassies or trade offices would be situated.