In Phnom Penh, the Ukrainian foreign minister seeks to strengthen his diplomatic support
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was taking advantage of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit in Phnom Penh to conduct a “Asian tour”, meeting with representatives of participating countries – ASEAN and non-ASEAN members, such as Australia – to advocate for increased political support. It also calls for material aid, such as transformers and generators to repair those destroyed during the fighting, and improved food security and trade.
Mr. Kuleba spoke on the day of the arrival of US President Joe Biden and met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He also affirmed that Ukraine was maintaining a dialogue with China in order to push it to “use his influence on Russia to make him stop the war”. The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, whom he hoped to meet on the occasion of this summit, should not however be present.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is also present at ASEAN meetings. His Ukrainian counterpart said that if Mr Lavrov asked to meet him he would be ready to consider his request, but he accused Russia of using the talks as a “smokescreen for his aggression to continue on the pitch”. “Ukraine will win, it’s only a matter of time and cost”hammered Mr. Kuleba, adding that “yes, some gains are achieved militarily, but some of Ukraine’s gains will be achieved diplomatically”.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he reminded participants of the importance of creating the necessary conditions for the resumption of dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, and “to gradually begin to envision a future where peace will prevail”.