President Jokowi Carries a Message from Zelenskyy to Putin

TheIndonesia.id - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed his support for an initiative of the United Nations (UN) to ensure resumption of Ukraine's food exports amid the Russia-Ukraine war. President Jokowi met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Maryinsky Palace, Kyiv, Wednesday, and said that Ukraine played an important role in the world's food supply chain.

"It is important for all parties to provide security guarantees for Ukrainian food exports, including through seaports. I support the United Nations' efforts in this regard," the president noted in a press statement on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

President Jokowi considered the importance of maximum efforts so that Ukraine could resume exporting food. A similar statement was earlier made by President Jokowi while attending the G7 Summit for Partner Countries held in Elmau, Germany, on Monday.

At that time, Jokowi sought support from G7 member countries to facilitate Ukraine's wheat exports, so that they could run again soon. In addition to the reintegration of wheat exports from Ukraine, Jokowi emphasized the importance of exporting food and fertilizer commodities from Russia in global supply chains.

Earlier last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union was working hard to establish "solidarity pathways" to facilitate food exports from Ukraine.

 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also briefly stated that his side was intensively communicating with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the United States, and the European Union to restore the Ukrainian grain export process amid the threat of a worsening global food crisis.

During his meeting with President Zelenskyy, President Jokowi conveyed his invitation to Ukraine to participate in the G20 Summit in Bali next November. Ukraine is not a member of the G20.

Jokowi also conveyed Indonesia's commitment to continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Ukraine, which this year, marks its 30th anniversary. "This year is 30 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Ukraine. I convey Indonesia's commitment to continue strengthening cooperation," he remarked.

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude and appreciation for President Jokowi's presence in Ukraine. "Thank you for the presence of President Jokowi, which is the first visit by an Asian leader since the invasion of Ukraine. I also invite Indonesian businesses to participate in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine," he remarked.

From Ukraine, President Jokowi is scheduled to visit Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana returned to Poland on Wednesday after completing a visit to Ukraine.

Back to Poland

 The president and his entourage boarded a special train from Kyiv Central Station at 19:00 local time, according to a statement. The train is scheduled to arrive at the Przemysl Glowny Station, Przemysl, Poland, the following day.

 Upon arrival at the Przemysl Glowny Station, the president and his entourage will head to the Rzeszow-Jasionka International Airport for a visit to Moscow, Russia. During his stay in Ukraine, President Jokowi visited several apartment buildings in Irpin City that were damaged by a war triggered by the Russian military invasion since February 24, 2022.

He also presented humanitarian aid from Indonesia to Ukraine. The donation was symbolically handed over to the Ukrainian Center for Endocrine Science and Surgery, Organ Transplant, and Endocrine Network in Kyiv.

Jokowi met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Maryinsky Palace in Kyiv and offered to pass on a message of the Ukrainian President to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "In this regard, I offer to carry a message from President Zelenskyy to President Putin, who I will visit soon," President Jokowi stated during a press conference with President Zelenskyy.

 Accompanying the President and the First Lady on this peace-building mission visit were Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. The Indonesian President is the first Asian leader to visit both Ukraine and Russia following the war between the two neighboring countries.

Indonesia, which holds the G20 Presidency this year, has invited Putin to participate in the G20 Summit to be organized in Bali in November 2022, as Russia is a G20 member country. Zelenskyy is also invited to the G20 Summit as an observer.