ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office has announced that the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, will be visiting Islamabad for a two-day official trip starting on July 20.
During his visit, Minister Kuleba will hold meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Pakistani counterpart, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. The ministry highlighted the close and cordial relations between Pakistan and Ukraine, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, agriculture, and higher education.
This visit by Foreign Minister Kuleba is significant as it marks the first-ever ministerial visit from Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1993. The ministry stated that the visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties between Pakistan and Ukraine.
According to sources, the discussions between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Ukraine will address the food crisis resulting from the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The Pakistani government officials expressed their desire for an end to the conflict and a peaceful resolution to the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Pakistan’s Stance on the Ukraine-Russia War
Islamabad has maintained a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, expressing concerns about the humanitarian crisis but refraining from openly condemning Russia.
Pakistan has consistently abstained from voting on United Nations resolutions against Russia while seeking support for the call for the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine.
Last year, Foreign Minister Bilawal reiterated Pakistan’s neutrality in the conflict, emphasizing that Islamabad was not taking sides. In an interview, he stated, “We would not be taking sides as we are sick and tired of wars and conflicts.”
A statement from the Foreign Office later affirmed Pakistan’s unchanged stance on the matter. It emphasized that the country had adopted a principled stance on the issue, which poses a significant diplomatic challenge for Islamabad in maintaining a balanced approach to its relationships with major powers.
The Foreign Office spokesperson added that Pakistan seeks to establish broad-based, objective, balanced, and mutually beneficial relationships with all major powers, including the United States and China.
