PRESIDENT JOKOWI SETS SIGHTS ON PEACE-BUILDING IN UKRAINE, RUSSIA by Fardah

 

Jakarta, 28/6/2022 (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to embark on a peace-building mission to Ukraine and Russia on June 29 and 30, 2022, after attending the G7 Summit for Partner Countries in Germany.

The G7 Summit, held on June 26-27, discussed the global food supply chain disruption and the Russia-Ukraine war, among other things.

The President and his entourage left Germany for Poland on June 28, from where he will enter Ukraine, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi informed.

He is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on June 29 and call on Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on June 30.

Prior to his departure to Germany, Jokowi told Indonesian media that his mission in Ukraine and Russia will be to conduct dialogue on efforts to end the war and achieve peaceful solutions.

"War has to be stopped and global food supply chains need to be reactivated," he said.

At the G7 Summit, he cited data from the World Food Program (WFP) showing that at least 323 million people in a number of countries are at risk of a food crisis. The G7 and G20 have a big responsibility to overcome this crisis, he added.

He emphasized the importance of G7 countries support for the reintegration of Ukraines wheat exports and Russias food and fertilizer exports into global supply chains.

 

 

The disruption of the fertilizer supply chain from Russia could cause a rice crisis that could affect two billion people, especially in developing countries, he pointed out.

The President outlined two ways to address this: first, the prompt facilitation of Ukraines grain exports; and second, proactive communication to people globally that food and fertilizers from Russia will not be subject to sanctions.

This intensive communication is necessary so that there is no prolonged doubt in the international public. This intensive communication also needs to be strengthened with communication to related parties such as banks, insurance, shipping, and others, he said.

Earlier, Minister Retno Marsudi had said that President Jokowis planned visits to Ukraine and Russia reflect his concern over humanitarian issues and his intention to contribute to peace-building and address the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on a number of countries, particularly developing countries.

"Despite the difficult situation and complex problem, as G20 President and a member of the champion group of the Global Crisis Response Group formed by the UN Secretary General, President Jokowi has opted to strive to make contributions rather than remain silent," she remarked.

Indonesia is holding the Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies this year. Themed Recover Together, Recover Stronger, the Indonesian G20 Presidency is focusing on economic recovery and health structure development following the COVID-19 pandemic that has triggered an economic downturn and food supply chain disruption globally.

Jokowi has invited Putin, a member of G20, and Zelenskyy as observers to the G20 Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Bali in November 2022, despite pressure from some Western countries to exclude Putin.

"Indonesia wants to unite the G20. Lest there be disunity," he remarked.

Though Ukraine is not a member of the G20, but chairs of the grouping can invite guest countries.

"I express my hope that the war can soon be ended, and peaceful solutions can be forged through negotiations," Jokowi said in an online statement after speaking with both leaders over the phone in April.

In March, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva told the press that Putin intends to attend the G20 Summit in Bali, but his participation will depend on many things, including the COVID situation.

Following the news, US President Joe Biden suggested that Ukraine attend G20 meetings should other members fail to agree on kicking Russia out. He made the suggestion following a meeting with NATO members and European allies in Brussels in March.

Meanwhile, Hikmahanto Juwana, an international law professor at the University of Indonesia (UI), said that Jokowi's planned visits to Ukraine and Russia show that Indonesia, as the G20 president, is taking the initiative to foster peace, end the humanitarian tragedy in Ukraine, and prevent a potential global food tragedy.

The visits reflect Indonesia's initiative to take part in creating global peace, as mandated by the 1945 Constitution, he said in a statement issued on June 23.

Hence, the President is undertaking the visits by sticking to the nation's free and active foreign policy, he noted.

Indonesia is not siding with Ukraine or Russia. It is neither providing arms assistance to Ukraine nor supporting Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, he said, reiterating that the nation is only siding with attempts to build world peace and put an end to the humanitarian tragedy.

The visits aim to profoundly see what the two conflicting countries can agree upon to reach a ceasefire, he said.

Indonesia is a co-founder and active member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which is a forum of 120 countries that are neither aligned with nor against any major power bloc.