Ukraine seeks to build friendly strategic relations with the countries of the African continent based on mutual respect for basic values and international principles. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with African media.
The meeting was attended by media from Angola, Botswana, Tunisia, the Republic of Guinea, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Zambia.
"If we are talking about strategic partnership between us and any African state, it should be based on mutual respect. Relations must be based on respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty, respect for your language and traditions," the Head of State is convinced.
According to him, after winning the war unleashed by Russia, Ukraine is ready to invest in African countries. Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded that our country is opening 10 embassies on the African continent, which is an important political and financial investment in times of war.
The President noted that even today some African countries know very little about Ukraine and opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.
"Every country has some strong areas and some areas that are just beginning to develop and are in short supply. If we are developed in agriculture and can be a guarantor, a friend, a strategic partner of African countries in this area, we are willing to do so," he said.
As the Head of State emphasized, Ukraine cooperates with partners, building relations based on truth and mutual respect, while Russia traditionally uses force and influence through information manipulation.
The President noted that Africa has a long history of cooperation with Ukraine, which was part of the Soviet Union. Therefore, our country has also made a great contribution to the development of the African continent, including infrastructure projects and education programs with African countries. But after the collapse of the USSR, Russia monopolized its legacy.
"Russia has monopolized relations with African countries. And all we want to do is wipe this glass clean and say: "We are here, we are a large independent state, we have been working with you for a long time." Yes, we have been weak in terms of politics and information, but we will improve that," he emphasized.
The President called the visit of the leaders of five African countries to Ukraine in June of this year very important: South Africa, the Union of the Comoros, Senegal, Zambia and Egypt. He believes that after visiting Kyiv, the leaders of these countries better understood what Ukraine is fighting for in the war against Russian aggression and that Ukraine is definitely a friend to African countries.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed readiness to pay a visit to the African continent and establish contact with as many African leaders and the societies they represent as possible.
"The main goal is for us all to do our best to achieve stability in the world and peace on the territory of our country. And to put any aggressor with any colonial ambitions in its place by ending this war," Volodymyr Zelenskyy summarized.