In the context of rising tensions in the Middle East, nothing has changed in the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia is trying to expand the occupied territory, while Ukraine is striving to increase its resistance power. Ukraine, which has been successfully continuing its resistance against the Russian occupation, has not reduced its diplomatic activity either. Kyiv has increased its diplomatic activity not only with the US and Europe but also in the Eurasian continent, including the South Caucasus and Central Asia directions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Turkey on April 4 also indicates this. In Ankara, the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the field of security was discussed. According to Zelensky, specialists from both countries will explore the details of expanding cooperation in the field of security. In addition, the leaders of the two countries discussed joint projects for the construction of gas infrastructure, as well as the possibilities of jointly developing gas fields.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s subsequent visit to Syria on the Turkish president’s plane also attracted attention. In Damascus, in a trilateral meeting in the Ukraine-Syria-Turkey format, issues of defense cooperation and food security were discussed.
While Volodymyr Zelensky was holding talks in Turkey and Syria, other members of his team made trips to other countries in the Eurasian region. For example, the visit of Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Mishchenko (former ambassador of his country to Azerbaijan) to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan can be mentioned. Mishchenko knows the region well. He is one of the diplomats who values Ukraine’s relations with the South Caucasus and Central Asian countries. Oleksandr Mishchenko highly appreciates Azerbaijan’s continuous humanitarian aid to Ukraine. In his interviews with the Azerbaijani media, the Ukrainian diplomat always emphasizes the strategic importance of relations between the two countries. Saying “We will not forget Azerbaijan’s kindness to Ukraine,” Mishchenko also does not forget to express his sincere gratitude to the President and people of Azerbaijan for this aid.
At the beginning of this month, Oleksandr Mishchenko also visited Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Alongside Azerbaijan, Kyiv has also begun to attach importance to the development of strategic relations with these two countries. There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, Central Asian countries prioritize a balanced foreign policy. That is, although Central Asian countries cooperate with Russia and China, they also want to benefit from political and economic relations with the United States, the European Union, and Ukraine.
Secondly, Kiev’s attention is focused on strengthening integration among Turkic states and transforming the Organization of Turkic States into a regional power. It is no coincidence that the main topics discussed by Mishchenko in Astana and Tashkent were transportation routes and the development of trade relations with Ukraine. Ukrainian companies, due to their potentials and technological capabilities, have good prospects to expand their activities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine also has great potential for supplying agricultural products and machinery to Central Asian countries. Representatives of Ukrainian companies recently visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and conducted successful negotiations with partners as well as representatives of relevant ministries and agencies. Meanwhile, Kyiv’s interest in the Trans-Caspian route has increased. Mishchenko discussed the possibilities of using this route during meetings in Astana and Tashkent.
Azerbaijan has supported the rehabilitation of Ukrainian children for years and has developed special programs for them. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have also decided to increase their support for rehabilitation programs for Ukrainian children who lost their parents in the war. After the war, it is possible for countries like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Thus, Oleksandr Mishchenko's visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have created the necessary conditions for increasing trade, developing transport corridors, participating of Ukrainian companies in large-scale infrastructure projects, and mutual support between states within the framework of international organizations. With this, Kyiv shows that it does not want to be excluded from energy and transportation projects in the Eurasian region.
Elkhan Shahinoglu,
political scientist