Ugandan, Ukrainian presidents hold first-ever discussion

By Hamza Kyeyune

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held the first-ever conversation with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni.

In a tweet, Zelenskyy confirmed that he had engaged President Museveni in a conversation and outlined the Ukrainian peace initiatives at the UN and discussed the potential for the development of bilateral relations.

“I was pleased to have the first conversation in the history of bilateral relations with President of Uganda @KagutaMuseveni. I have outlined the Ukrainian peace initiatives at the UN. We also discussed the potential for the development of bilateral relations,” Zelenskyy tweeted.

The conversation came as the 193-member UN General Assembly met to debate a Ukraine-backed motion calling for a vote on a resolution for achieving peace in Ukraine.

The vote comes just ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Uganda and other countries, notably China and India, have abstained during the series of UN votes on Ukraine.

In October 2022, at least 26 African countries voted in favor of the resolution rejecting Moscow’s controversial referenda in four Ukrainian regions. Uganda was again among 19 others that abstained from the vote.