Ukraine to Strengthen Its Diplomatic Presence in the Asian Region, Says Zelensky

Ukraine is ready to join global security processes as a defender of the international order and in this context will strengthen its diplomatic presence in the Asian space.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this at a meeting of heads of foreign diplomatic missions ‘Military Diplomacy: Resilience, Weapons, Victory’, Ukrinform reports citing the Presidential Office.

‘The entire Asian space and the Pacific Ocean region is now one of the centres of events where it is decided what the next decades will be like. Ukraine has its own view on global development, and it should be exclusively peaceful development within the framework of a rules-based world order. Ukraine is ready to join the relevant processes as a security donor and defender of the international order. We will strengthen our diplomatic presence in the Asian space,’ Zelenskyy said.

In this context, the President stressed that Ukraine and Japan have achieved a true strategic partnership, and this model of relations should become a model.

Regarding Latin America, Zelenskyy noted very good results in working with countries such as Chile and Argentina, as well as with the Caribbean. He stressed that Ukraine should increase cooperation, so the task of the relevant ambassadors and employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to implement the Ukrainian initiative to hold an Ukraine-Latin America summit.

The Head of State also noted that in the African region, ‘we need strong partnerships with those who respect international law’. According to him, Ukraine needs economic and security cooperation with Africa, as well as direct diplomatic work, in particular in the format of the Ukraine-Africa forum to be held.

Zelenskyy noted that in the Black Sea region, Ukrainian diplomacy should work with all partners so that it is a region free from the Russian military threat. This means strengthening initiatives such as Grain from Ukraine, the Crimean Platform, and bilateral cooperation in the region.

‘The Euro-Atlantic - every representative of Ukraine should work to strengthen understanding: NATO will be complete only with Ukraine as a member. The European Union - the negotiation process should be as dynamic as Ukraine needs it to be,’ Zelenskyy added.