Ukraine and Africa look to strengthen diplomatic relations: Ukrainian foreign minister discusses new opportunities

Ukraine needs to forge diplomatic ties with African nations to create new prospects for the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, reported that on Facebook.

Kuleba highlighted the potential of Africa as an economic platform for investing and trading purposes. Ukraine is advocating for the involvement of more state–owned companies in exporting specific products to African markets, which would subsequently bring financial returns and would create more jobs.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted that diplomatic relations with Africa are the development of people-to-people contacts.

"We are working so that after the war in Ukraine, more African students will come [to Ukraine – ed.]. Our universities will regain the glory of training specialists worldwide, particularly for Africa. People will return to their countries and become advocates for our country. This will be our soft power," – explained the head of the diplomatic department.

In addition, Kuleba stressed that Ukraine is interested in international support from the African continent.

"We need Africa's support in the international arena," the head of the diplomatic department emphasized.

The minister also emphasized that Ukraine needs political support because the Russians spread a lot of fake information in Africa.

"Russia is spreading a lot of lies about Ukraine, about aggression, saying that they [ the Russian Federation troops – ed.] are fighting America, not Ukraine," the foreign minister said.

What is known about Ukraine's relations with Africa?

It should be noted that at the beginning of this week, Kuleba went on a tour of African countries. The purposes of the visits were, in particular:

• the involvement of countries in the Ukrainian peace formula;
• enlisting support for the "grain initiative";
• creation of new opportunities for Ukrainian businesses.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced plans to hold the first Ukraine-Africa summit and open several new embassies on the territory of the African continent.

Currently, it is known that Ukraine intends to open an embassy in Maputo. The country has even received official consent from Mozambique.

As Rubryka wrote, during the first-ever visit to Rwanda, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vincent Biruta, in the capital, Kigali, and announced the opening of an embassy in the country.

It should be noted that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, wants to organize a summit of the countries of Latin America and Ukraine and personally visit it. Ukraine also seeks to develop relations with the countries of the African continent.