Ukraine seeks to bring cooperation with South Africa to ‘qualitatively new level’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine said on Monday that it seeks to bring cooperation with South Africa to a “qualitatively new level.”

“In the development of the renaissance of Ukrainian-African relations, Ukraine seeks to bring cooperation with the Republic of South Africa to a qualitatively new level,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said during a meeting with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor in Pretoria, according to a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry statement.

Kuleba further said that Kyiv offered a partnership based on “mutual respect and benefit,” indicating that he is glad that the South African government shares Ukraine’s aspiration.

The statement said that Kuleba informed Pandor on the current situation on the front line with Moscow and the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war.

It also said that Kuleba appreciated South Africa’s participation in efforts to promote President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace formula, which he first presented at the G-20 summit in Indonesia in November 2022.

“The minister (Kuleba) invited the South African side to participate in the Global Peace Summit, the holding of which is currently being worked out by Ukraine and partners,” the statement said, adding that he also gave an invitation to join the “Grain from Ukraine" food program.

The statement went on to say that a memorandum was signed on the development of cooperation in the field of diplomatic education and research between the two countries, and that Kuleba invited Pandor to visit Ukraine at a convenient time.