Amid Russia-Ukraine War, First Asian Leader to Visit Moscow and Kiev
(Baonghean.vn) - On June 22, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that Indonesian President Joko Widodo will visit Ukraine and Russia at the end of the month, after attending the G7 summit in Germany.
A senior Indonesian diplomat told a news conference that Widodo would hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital Kiev before continuing his trip to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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| Indonesian President Joko Widodo is set to become the first Asian leader to visit Russia and Ukraine amid ongoing conflicts. Photo: Reuters |
Commenting that the visits were conducted under “unusual circumstances,” Ms. Retno said that Mr. Widodo “chose to try to contribute and not remain silent” amid the “complex situation and issues” facing the world.
He is currently the chair of the G-20 and a member of the Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG) established by the United Nations Secretary-General.
“The President’s visit shows his concern for human issues; he is trying to contribute to combating the food crisis that broke out due to the war situation, which affects all countries, especially developing and low-income countries, and at the same time preserve the spirit of peace,” said Ms. Retno.
The foreign minister also stressed that Mr. Widodo is about to become the first Asian leader to visit both countries amid the ongoing conflict.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo may discuss Russia's blockade of Odessa, a move that has cut off food shipments out of Ukraine, a major producer of several commodities such as wheat and corn.
Meetings of the world's 20 major economies this year have been overshadowed by the situation in Ukraine, and Indonesia, as the group's current chair, is trying to balance the interests of its members, especially amid threats from Western countries to boycott the summit and push for Russia's expulsion.
Retno did not specify the dates of the visits, but Russia's TASS news agency previously reported that Widodo and Putin were scheduled to meet on June 30, citing a Kremlin source who said the Indonesian president's visit would be "very important" and underscore Indonesia's importance as a partner of Russia.
Mr. Widodo will attend a G-7 summit held from June 26 to 28 before moving to Kiev and Moscow, then ending his foreign trip in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Indonesia is not a member of the G-7 but was invited by host Germany as a partner country to the group, along with Argentina, India, Senegal and South Africa. The G-7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US.
During the press conference, Ms. Retno also emphasized that the prices of many foods such as meat, dairy products, cereals, vegetable oils and sugar, and energy have increased sharply compared to January this year.