Ukraine FM to visit Africa, Oman to gain backing for peace plan
by AFP Staff Writers
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Oct 23, 2024

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga on Wednesday starts a tour of African countries and Oman to drum up support for Kyiv's plan to end the grinding war with Russia.

The visits to Oman, Angola, Egypt and South Africa come after Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled his "Victory Plan" and called for immediate NATO membership.

Sybiga's visits beginning Wednesday and ending Monday would "promote the Peace Formula, develop political dialogue, consolidate humanitarian and energy support for Ukraine, and develop trade and economic cooperation," the foreign ministry said.

In June, almost 80 countries endorsed a 10-point "peace formula" proposed by Zelensky that said Ukrainian territorial integrity must be respected and called for Russian troops to leave Ukraine.

Kyiv has been urging more countries to endorse the agenda.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has been stepping up diplomatic ties with Moscow's traditional allies in Africa and Asia.

Sybiga's departure coincides with the visit of around 20 world leaders -- including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- to Russia for a three-day gathering of the BRICS group in the central city of Kazan.

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