Ukraine’s foreign minister meets Malawian president during 4th Africa tour

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine’s foreign minister on Monday met with Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera during an official visit to the East African nation.

“We appreciate Malawi's firm and consistent stance on Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as its support for the Peace Summit communique,” Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement on X.

Expressing that Ukraine is grateful for Malawi’s support, he said Kyiv is aware of the severe impact of climate change on the country’s food security.

Kuleba further said that he conveyed Kyiv’s decision to assist Malawi as part of the country’s Grain From Ukraine program on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s instructions.

“We also discussed the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, pharmacy, digitalization, and other fields,” the foreign minister added.

Kuleba’s visit to Malawi marks the first-ever visit by a Ukrainian foreign minister to the East African country and is the first leg of his fourth Africa tour which began on Sunday.

A day earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry announced that Kuleba will embark on a tour of the region until Thursday, which also includes visits to Zambia and Mauritius.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, the Ukrainian foreign minister has made three separate tours of Africa in a bid to counter growing Russian influence in the region.