Ukrainian foreign minister in Zambia says Africa can play role on ‘path to peace’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday said Zambia and the rest of the African continent have a significant role to play on the “path to peace,” as he held talks with President Hakainde Hichilema in the capital Lusaka.

“Following the Peace Summit and Zambia’s recent decision to join its communique, I elaborated on the logic of Ukraine’s further steps to implement the Peace Formula on the path to the second Peace Summit. I expressed confidence that Zambia and wider Africa has a significant role to play on the path to peace,” Kuleba said on X.

A conference meant to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict was held in Switzerland two months ago. While Russia was not invited, China chose not to attend and the final declaration was not signed by some countries including India and Saudi Arabia.

Expressing Kyiv’s appreciation for Zambia’s solidarity with Ukraine, Kuleba said his country also regards Hichilema’s personal engagement in efforts to “restore just and lasting peace as part of a group of African leaders.”

Kuleba said he conveyed Ukraine’s decision to provide Zambia with assistance within the framework of the “Grain From Ukraine” program in a bid to alleviate the consequences of the drought experienced in the southern African nation this year.

“We also discussed a number of areas where we can make our bilateral partnership deeper and stronger, including agriculture, digitalization, energy security, economic cooperation, and trade,” he added.

Kuleba’s visit to Zambia marks the first-ever visit by a Ukrainian foreign minister. His four-day Africa tour began on Sunday. He held talks with Malawi's leadership a day earlier in the capital Lilongwe and will also travel to Mauritius.

This is Kuleba's fourth tour to the 55-nation continent since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022. The visits are meant to elicit support and counter growing Russian influence in the region.