Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba embarked on his fourth diplomatic tour of Africa, arriving in Malawi, the first stop on his journey, on Monday, August 5. He then met with Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera in the capital of Lilongwe, where the two discussed numerous topics, from the unwavering support shown by the African country to Ukraine in the war of aggression started by Russia to the inclusion of Malawi in Kyiv’s “Grain from Ukraine” Program. This meeting holds significant meaning, especially following the decision of two other African countries, Mali and Niger, to cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine, citing its support to “terrorist groups” as the cause.

Kuleba expressed his satisfaction to Chekwera, stating “We appreciate Malawi’s firm and consistent stance on Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as its support for the peace summit communique,” The Kyiv Independent reports. About the decision to support Lilongwe within the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative, he added “Ukraine is not only grateful; we also want to be helpful. We are aware of the severe impact of climate change on Malawi’s food security,” underlining his country’s commitment to counter the problem of food security, dramatically worsened following the start of the conflict in Ukraine due to the severely reduced inflow of grain to the global market. When asked about the decision of Mali and Niger to cut diplomatic ties, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed regret and added that “Ukraine unconditionally adheres to the norms of international law, the inviolability of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries,” concerning the accusation of Mali of Kyiv’s support to terroristic groups.

The visit of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba to the African continent follows the official 2024 foreign policy agenda set by the President, Volodymyr Zelensky, in December 2023. Developing relationships with the African continent is one of the key priorities of his country, especially in the context of the increasing influence Russia is exercising in the region, where it has been present for a longer time compared to Kyiv. Furthermore, the decision of Mali and Niger to cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine is strictly connected to this phenomenon, with both countries having stronger relationships with Russia – in Mali, for example, the mercenaries of the Wagner Group have been aiding the local army in their fight with the Tuareg-led rebels.

This diplomatic tour indicates the ever-growing importance that the African continent is gaining in international geopolitical events. Both Ukraine and Russia are looking to gather support for their relative stance on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, especially concerning the voting mechanism within international fora, like the United Nations General Assembly. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov embarked on a similar diplomatic tour just last June, reassuring the governments of the countries he visited (Chad, Guinea, Republic of Congo, and Burkina Faso) of the amicable relationship with Russia and the readiness of the Federation to deepen the cooperation. Minister Kuleba will likely follow a similar path, trying to persuade African leaders to support Ukraine’s side during the conflict and its peace proposal, especially in the path towards the convening of the second peace summit, ensuring at the same time the readiness of his country to increase the support within the “Grain from Ukraine” framework, which, as of early July, has resulted in the shipping of 221,000 metric tons of agricultural products to 10 countries in Africa and Asia (according to Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office).

Whether this latest diplomatic tour of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will have the desired result is early to say. The historical ties that link some African countries to Russia are hard to break, particularly when its influence is strong and the support the Kremlin provides is lifesaving for many of the governments and economies of these countries. The participation of some African states in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine of June 15-16, 2024, in Switzerland, like Malawi, Zambia, and Mauritius (the three stops of the current diplomatic tour), is a sign that the continent is actively engaging in the international arena to have its voice heard and contribute to the path towards peace in Ukraine. With these countries on board, the negotiations for peace would be richer, more engaging, and inclusive, and bring a new perspective to the table. Let’s hope more positive outcomes will follow in the future.