Home
Ukrainian Foreign Minister to «Al-Sabah»: Iraq is able to find a balance between Kiev and Moscow
Iraq 04/19/2023[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Ahmad al-Musawi
The visit of the Ukrainian foreign minister to the capital, Baghdad, represented an attempt to revive the relationship between Baghdad and Kiev, as it ended an 11-year era since the last visit by a Ukrainian foreign minister to Baghdad in 2014, and in an exclusive interview with "Al-Sabah"Minister Dmytro Kuleba confirmed that his visit seeks to open the door for cooperation and communication for the rest of the ministers in the Ukrainian government with their counterparts in Iraq. While the minister discussed the reality of the initiative launched by the League of Arab States to stop the war in Ukraine, he outlined the Kiev criteria for accepting commitment to any initiative. The dialogue also touched on To the possibility of achieving a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, or not, and while the Ukrainian Foreign Minister revealed his country's full commitment to the decision of the United Nations General Assembly in this regard, Kuleba called for a review of the mechanisms and means of achieving international peace pursued by the Security Council. The dialogue also touched on To the relations of the two countries and urgent issues in the international arena.
Dialogue text:
● What role does Ukraine want from Iraq?
Iraq, as a country that has gone through devastating wars, is aware of what Ukraine is currently going through, and can turn its eyes away from the war, and this is exactly what the Iraqi government is doing, so how do you see political support from Baghdad, as we note that the Iraqi government is aware of the importance of the Ukrainian territorial integrity. We also believe that the Iraqi government is able to achieve a balance that secures a good relationship with both Ukraine and Russia, while supporting the exit of Russian forces from our lands.
What are the prospects for cooperation between Baghdad and Kiev?
A: Certainly there are many areas, as you know that my visit to the capital, Baghdad, came as a follow-up to the phone calls between the Iraqi Prime Minister, Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani, and the Ukrainian President, Vladimir Zelensky, and this visit took place to open the door for the rest of the ministers in the Ukrainian government, as well as Ukrainian companies, to re-establish Relations with their Iraqi counterparts, launching joint projects in the fields of trade, food security, as well as in the field of technology, education, and any other field in which we can cooperate. I am the first Ukrainian foreign minister to visit Iraq since 2012, eleven years is a long time. We need to revive the relationship between the two countries, and there are no obstacles to achieving this goal.
● The League of Arab States put forward a peace initiative in Ukraine. What is its fate?
A: I do not think it is effective, because while Ukraine wants peace, Russia wants war, and if you follow the situation on the military fronts in Ukraine, you will find that Russia is the aggressor. The Arabs are not making any progress, but they are trying, and we agree that the other side does not want peace, even if Peace was their goal, so why did they send more tanks and soldiers into battle?
Secondly, I believe that it is necessary for the League of Arab States to call things by their proper names, and to build its efforts on a clear understanding that Russia represents the aggressor side, and that it is the party that has violated the rules of international law, while Ukraine exercises its right to self-defence, and its right to regain all of its lands. To invite the two parties to do something is unfair, you can discuss it politically, because we are not the aggressor in this war, Russia is the one who represents the guilty side and this is clear, and any initiative that does not include that will be contrary to the truth and reality.
Nevertheless, it is good for the League of Arab States to continue its initiatives to end the war, and these are good endeavors, but they will only be effective if they include two main points. The first is to name each party by its name, as Russia bears the guilt of the war by choosing it, and the second is that Ukraine has the right to regain all of its lands. If the initiative is based on these two foundations, results can be reached.
● How many international initiatives are working to end this war?
The ten-point initiative announced by President Zelensky represents a road plan because it includes a series of steps that must be taken to end the war, while China's plan is a way to position itself and its interests in this war, and therefore there is a big difference between these two initiatives.
We hear from time to time leaders from Africa and Latin America, talking about their vision of how to establish security, but they do not come up with specific steps, so we believe that the best initiative is the one put forward by the United Nations General Assembly that was voted on February 23 during the current year, Which is very close to the road map put forward by President Zelensky, as it was voted for by 141 votes for countries from Africa, Europe, and Asia, and the countries of the world must meet to investigate what is written within that initiative, instead of creating new initiatives, we must all To stand united with the initiative undertaken by the United Nations General Assembly.
Why is Ukraine so interested in joining NATO?
In the year 2014, Ukraine was not asking to join NATO, we had a law stating that Ukraine is a country that does not join any of the military blocs and alliances, and it was the same year that Russia invaded Ukraine, and illegally occupied the Crimea peninsula, and part of it From our lands east of the country.
The lesson here is that when Ukraine had no intention of joining NATO, Russia invaded our lands. When Russia argues that they launched the current war because of our request to join the alliance, this is a lie. In 2014 we were not heading towards NATO, and that did not prevent Russia from waging war against Ukraine.
The reason that prompted us to request joining NATO is that this will prevent Russia from launching a new aggression, because in NATO, if an aggression takes place against one of its members, the rest of the members must defend it. We cannot join NATO now, but we will join in the future, after To win the war, and this will be the strongest barrier for Russia to launch a new aggression against Ukraine.
● How do you comment on the leaking of documents from the Pentagon indicating espionage on the Ukrainian president and the scarcity of anti-aircraft weapons that your country possesses?
A: I do not think that anyone is spying on President Zelensky. Officials cannot discuss leaks, because we live in a world where information is not only subject to leakage, but also to distortion in one way or another.
The beneficiaries can distort the information, but when you look at the amount of US aid to Ukraine in this war, you will know that it is the first country to support in this war.
As for the scarcity of missiles, we do not need any leaks, to tell you officially, that we constantly need anti-aircraft missiles, military equipment, and our list of needs in the war with a country like Russia.
long.
We need anti-aircraft guns because Russia is bombing our safe cities, while the Russian side claims that it is bombing our military forces. This is not true, as the Russian forces are targeting our vital facilities.
Ukraine before the war was the first source of energy to Europe, but after targeting and destroying these facilities, we now need to import energy from abroad. So it is certain that more anti-aircraft assistance hinders the effectiveness of Russian air strikes.
● We are witnessing many conflict areas in the world. Do you think there is a real need to reconsider the work mechanism of the United Nations and the Security Council?
A: When I was a university student, we used to discuss and study the structure and feasibility of the United Nations means in building global peace, and today, when I became foreign minister, we are still discussing the same topic. Yes, there are many conflict areas in the world, and every war sends a message that the international peacekeeping mechanism is in place. Ineffective, because if it were, the war would not have broken out. Of course, we need to recalibrate and correct these mechanisms used in maintaining world peace.
For example, the veto system must be reconsidered, as any decision the Security Council seeks to take in the Ukrainian war is rejected by Russia, relying on the right of veto as a permanent member of the Security Council.
● What about your meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Lavrov?
We have already met in Antalya during the month of April last year. Mr. Lavrov is one of the main partners of Mr. Putin, and what he is doing is not diplomatic in any way, rather it is more like falsifying facts in favor of Mr. Putin.
If I had to sit down with him to end the war, I certainly would, and the best case scenario for doing so would be for us to come together to sign the surrender of the Russian forces in Ukraine.
Do you think that will be soon?
Yes, it is possible, but more than that, this will happen, as Russia has already lost the war, and the Russian side believes that it can control the entire Ukrainian territory in just a few days, but unfortunately the war lasted for more than a year, and what Russia is currently doing Is trying to take more time.
And that the moment of controlling all our lands will be achieved not only because of our steadfastness, but also as a result of our diplomatic efforts.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
» utube 5/29/24 MM&C Iraq Dinar-IQD-Update-Digitial Transformation-New Cash Denominations-IMF-Ratifi
» utube MM&C 5/31/24 Iraqi Dinar-IQD Update-Budget Law-Parliament Speaker Vote-Monitoring Financial
» A frightening deficit” and “oppressed” governorates.. Budget schedules are preparing for a “storm” o
» Al-Mandalawi issues a directive regarding budget tables
» The Central Bank issues a clarification regarding housing loans for citizens
» Communications: About 8 million homes subscribe to the Internet in Iraq.. half of them are “optical
» A 3-step agreement to end the file of government contracts in Iraq
» On one condition: The Ministry of Labor is “ready” to include those recovering from drugs in social
» Parliamentary escalation against Kurdistan's share...one of the most prominent agenda of Barzani's v
» The Central Bank announces raising the amounts allocated for housing loans
» MM&C 5/31/24 Al-Mandalawi directs the Finance Committee to expedite the review of the budget schedul
» When the state turns into a collector: the poor suffer from the burden of government decisions
» Sanad regarding the budget: The Finance Committee did not prepare its report and the session was inv
» Salah al-Din... directing the inventory and numbering of houses in the Tikrit district in preparatio
» Al-Hakim: The situation in Iraq is good
» A delegation from the Ministry of Oil visits Maysan to review the preparations for the start of actu
» The President of the Republic stresses the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between I
» The Minister of Education announces the intention to prepare a strategic plan to support research ce
» Planning determines the components of sustainable human development and comes up with several recomm
» Planning: The population census will achieve fair distribution of wealth among the governorates
» The agricultural plan does not produce this number. There are suspicions of “fraud” and the sale of
» The housing crisis is exacerbated by the astronomical real estate prices in Baghdad
» With 10 other improvement measures... “Business Intel” promises its employees the release of salarie
» Iran reveals the value of its foreign trade.. This is Iraq’s share
» A source reveals the outcomes of the Kirkuk Council forces meeting
» Iraq and Syria agree to form joint committees to strengthen relations and cooperation in various fie
» Kirkuk hosts a meeting of the Advisory Council of the Iraqi Engineers Syndicate
» Transparency: Imports from Sulaymaniyah and Halabja during the month of May amounted to more than 67
» Rashid to the heads of the Kurdistan blocs: The relationship between Baghdad and the region has impr
» Mr. Al-Hakim to Barzani: Dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil is sufficient to resolve the outstanding
» Travelers to Al-Furat News: Government banks refuse to sell the dollar to us and limit it to pilgrim
» Oil prices continue to decline ahead of the OPEC Plus meeting next Sunday
» Iran: Iraq is one of the richest countries in the Middle East
» A shocking court decision threatens to overturn the amendment to the pension law and calls into ques
» Abu Saeeda: American forces will not withdraw from Iraq, and the nature of their presence will be ch
» Parliamentary Oil: The region’s violation prevented the approval of the oil and gas law
» No technical problems.. The region’s greed hinders the passage of the oil and gas law
» A parliamentary committee determines the main reason for not approving the oil and gas law.. What is
» A "pessimistic" prediction of health: every 10 minutes a person dies in Iraq for this reason
» Regarding the salary of a full-time appointee... This is the date for launching an electronic form f
» Economic clarification: The government is lying about repaying the IMF debt
» Labor will soon launch a form to apply for wounded military personnel to receive the salary of a ful
» A government advisor outlines the truth about governorate allocations and demolishes the “common bel
» After his meeting with the Basra Oil Administration, Al-Badran announces the opening of an employmen
» Following the call for an “urgent meeting” between Baghdad and Kurdistan... an expert reveals the po
» The Finance Committee confirms that there are no appointments in the 2024 budget
» Iraq did not pay its debts to the International Monetary Fund as announced: reconsider your statemen
» Planning discusses the World Human Development Report 2023-2024
» European Union: We look forward to increasing cooperation with Iraq
» Al-Halbousi ends the controversy: There is no return to Parliament
» He stressed that the digital transformation process contributes to reducing corruption....Government
» Iraq: An American company and a British institute were targeted after Al-Sadr accused Washington of
» Al-Maliki and Barzani stress the importance of maintaining coordination, cooperation and understandi
» Parliamentary Finance announces the completion of the study and analysis of the 2024 budget tables
» Iraq is considering using the development route to transport oil and gas
» The Court of Cassation issues a decision regarding one of the federal decisions (documents)
» A parliamentarian reveals 18 corruption files in ports: all in the hands of integrity
» To resume exports through Ceyhan.. Baghdad calls on Erbil for an urgent meeting
» Will Parliament vote next Monday on the budget and what is the story behind the agenda?
» After its leak... Parliament officially publishes the schedule for the budget voting session on Mond
» Cigarettes... steal 10 times more money from the youth and sports budget and kill an Iraqi every 10
» Iraq occupies advanced positions in global crime indicators
» Iraqi Dinar: IBBC issues Major New Paper on De-Dollarisation of Iraq
» utube 5/27/24 MM&C Iraq Dinar - IQD - USD - Exchange Rate Change Inevitable - CBI Launch National
» MM&C 5/30/24 Association of Banks: The joint committee with the American side will begin its work ne
» A call to the government to initiate action to stop the domination of lands in Baghdad and the provi
» A parliamentary movement to resolve the “Business Intel” file
» The UAE imports approximately 900,000 barrels of Iraqi fuel oil
» China acknowledges: Iraq is our largest trading partner and must actively participate in the “Belt a
» Parliament recalls the importance of the recent licensing rounds: they will increase production by o
» Parliament: Baghdad and Najaf metro plans are useless for investors
» The Kurdistan Region responds to Baghdad: We are ready to negotiate to resume pumping oil through th
» The Central Bank of NINA: The expansion of electronic payment operations will push towards the adopt
» The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is discussing with the United Nations Development Program to strengt
» The Minister of Labor approves the designs of complementary projects to establish the Ministry’s off
» The Minister of Labor announces the good news of a new increase in the minimum retirement salaries f
» A complaint in Kirkuk about the proposal to rotate positions and the meeting of the Sudanese and the
» The American ambassador comments on corporate attacks: Iraq's ability to attract investments is weak
» An increase of one million barrels of oil and gas exploitation. Parliament outlines the importance o
» Al-Sudani receives Barzani and they discuss government measures in the areas of services and the eco
» Parliament denies disbursing sums of money to MPs entitled (Hajj Allocations)
» Parliamentary Finance: 16 trillion dinars from oil revenues will be added to the budget
» 24 GOP Governors Warn Biden Against ‘Unconstitutional’ WHO Pandemic Agreement
» Baghdad Council: Mafias took over the lands of the capital and the rest of the governorates
» A politician does not rule out the presence of political money in the parliamentary presidency file
» Waiting for the government to reveal the truth about its discussions with the Americans... patience
» Parliamentary services talk about disaster areas in Baghdad
» Al-Sudani discusses with Barzani the common files and ways to address them
» Kurdistan Natural Resources confirms: We are ready to visit Baghdad again to resume exporting the re
» Al-Araji: We are working to grant all Kurdistan’s entitlements in accordance with the constitution a
» A BlackRock investment fund becomes the largest Bitcoin fund in the world
» The British Ambassador: We have a desire to strengthen Iraq's friendship and support it in reconstru
» Integrity arrests an accused red-handed in practicing bargaining and bribery in exchange for issuing
» Reuters: High oil inventories prompt OPEC+ to maintain cuts
» The Minister of Transport inaugurates a new mass transit line in Baghdad
» Al-Sudani announces the opening and operation of 200 electrical stations throughout Iraq
» Oil: We seek to resume the export of Kurdistan Region oil as soon as possible
» Security media: There was no human or material damage in targeting “Caterpillar” and “Cambridge” in