Yermak: Ukraine has something to offer African countries as Global South component

The development of relations with African countries is very relevant in the context of increasing Ukraine's attention to the Global South.

"African countries are mentioned today mostly in connection with the grain agreement. But we can and should talk not only about grain. Ukraine has something to offer African countries. We have to restore our presence in Africa in many areas, so we are talking about the military and technical sphere, and about grain hubs, and about the return of students. In addition, African countries are certainly interested in what we did with Wagner, they want to get rid of the influence of this structure, and Ukraine has an interesting experience here," Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak told a briefing in Kyiv, commenting on the results of the meeting of advisers to the heads of state and government in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) on August 5-6, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

In general, Yermak says, one of the turning points in the attitude of African countries towards Ukraine was the visit of the leaders of several countries of the continent to Ukraine, their meeting with President Zelensky, and what they saw here.

"I can say without exaggeration that the leader of the Republic of South Africa, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, radically changed his attitude towards Ukraine precisely after this visit. And today the leaders of African countries want to hear President Zelensky, they make proposals for official visits, and I predict that a visit to the Republic of South Africa will be quite possible already this year," Yermak said.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also working hard on the development of the ‘African vector’. I predict that the plans of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be implemented, and Ukraine will open up to 10 embassies in African countries by the end of the year," he added.