Iraq offers mediation between Russia and Ukraine
The Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, and the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, during a joint press conference. Photo: Al-Arabiya News
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, announced, during his meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, in Baghdad, on Monday, that his country is ready to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine.
During a joint press conference with Kuleba, Hussein considered that this visit is important for the future of the relationship between Iraq and Ukraine, and also for the future Iraqi role in helping Ukraine and Russia.
The Iraqi Foreign Minister stressed that Baghdad is ready to help the two parties reach a cease-fire first, and secondly start talks, within the framework of the contact group of the Arab League, in which Iraq has been participating for a year.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister ruled out the success of any mediation initiative at the present time.
“We reaffirm that we are against war and believe in dialogue and negotiations, but dialogue and negotiations need two parties,” Hussein stated.
“When the two sides are convinced that it is necessary to start dialogue, Baghdad will be available for both parties,” the Iraqi Minister added.
This is the first visit by a Ukrainian foreign minister to Iraq in 11 years, and follows a visit by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, to Baghdad in February.
The Iraqi offer comes after the Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, announced on Sunday that he had discussed a joint mediation initiative with China and the United Arab Emirates, considering that the United States and Europe are prolonging the conflict.