On 24 October, during the visit to Angola, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha held bilateral negotiations in Luanda with Minister of Foreign Affairs of this country Tete Antoniou.

Andrii Sybiha highlighted the importance of the first visit of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister to Angola, noting that this year the two countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Embassy of Ukraine in Luanda.

During the negotiations, the ministers focused on the prospects of involving Ukrainian companies in projects to modernize Angola's energy and transport infrastructure, as well as its agricultural sector. They discussed the role of Ukraine and potential mutually beneficial projects in the context of the implementation of the Lobito corridor.

The diplomats paid special attention to high-tech agriculture, in particular the use of drones in farming.

"Ukraine has unique experience and technologies, which we are ready to share and help Angola in increasing its food self-sufficiency," Andrii Sybiha emphasized.

The Head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted that Ukraine was interested in expanding the Ukrainian-Angolan contractual and legal framework. According to the Minister, the priority for cooperation is the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between governments in the field of defense and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Agrarian Ministries of the two countries.

The ministers also agreed to establish a Joint Intergovernmental Commission and to prepare its first meeting.

The parties also discussed the prospects of concluding agreements on avoidance of double taxation, promotion and mutual protection of investments, cooperation between the diplomatic academies.

The Minister informed his Angolan colleague about the situation on the battlefield and Russian shelling of Ukrainian cities, communities, energy system and port infrastructure.

In this context, Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Ukraine highly valued the principled position of Angola, clearly expressed by its President, regarding the condemnation of Russian aggression and firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state.

"We are all united by a common goal: a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. This is what the Peace Formula, which we have discussed in detail today, is aimed at. Both the Ukrainian and Angolan peoples know the pain of war and suffering, but also the true value of peace," the Minister emphasized.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine recalled that Ukraine had made a significant contribution to peacekeeping efforts on the African continent for many years, and the Ukrainian military had participated in numerous UN peacekeeping missions.

In this context, the Ukrainian diplomat emphasized the fundamental role of Angola and other African states in the joint efforts of the civilized world to restore a just peace in Ukraine.

The Ukraine’s Foreign Minister called on Angola to join the implementation of the Peace Formula and to participate in the Second Global Peace Summit.

The Minister drew attention to the fact that Russian aggression against Ukraine had global negative consequences for many countries, in particular in the field of food and energy security. At the same time, even during the war, Ukraine remains a reliable partner and guarantor of food security for many countries and regions of the world.

Andriy Sybiha informed the Angolan side in detail about the results of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor, which allowed to restore Ukrainian exports to the pre-war level, and also about the recent increase in Russian attacks on port infrastructure and civilian vessels.

“Our farmers grow crops despite the danger of shelling and mine contamination of fields, and our port workers load ships under constant Russian missile strikes. Just last month, Russian attacks damaged four civilian ships, including ships with grain for Egypt, corn for Italy and humanitarian cargo of the UN Food Program for Palestine," he noted.

In this context, the Minister called on Angola to make joint efforts to protect freedom of navigation.

The Head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also emphasized the critical importance of the humanitarian program "Grain from Ukraine", initiated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which our state continues to successfully implement. He invited the Angolan side to take part in the Third International Summit on Food Security, which will be held this year in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Minister separately noted that Ukraine was currently experiencing serious problems due to mine pollution. Angola, even many years after the end of the war, faces the same problem and has considerable experience in overcoming it. Andrii Sybiha suggested strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and Angola in the field of humanitarian demining.

The Minister confirmed Ukraine's readiness to strengthen cooperation in the education sector and to accept more students from Angola as soon as security conditions allow. He reminded that Minister Tete Antoniou himself had studied in Kyiv many years ago and was well aware of the high quality of Ukrainian higher education.

Andrii Sybiha specifically emphasized that Ukraine highly appreciated Angola's efforts to resolve the security situation in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the framework of the Luanda process.

The Ukraine’s Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to the Angolan side for the hospitable reception and invited Minister Tete Antoniou to visit Ukraine on an official visit.

Photo (c) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola