ISTANBUL 

Ukraine’s foreign minister will start a fourth tour of African countries in a bid to further expand ties with the region, Kyiv said on Sunday.

Dmytro Kuleba will embark on a tour including Malawi, Zambia, and Mauritius starting Sunday and ending Thursday, where he will meet with the heads of state of the three countries and his counterparts, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Saying that Kuleba will also meet with local business and cultural figures, the statement added that his visits to Malawi, Zambia and Mauritius will be the first ever by a Ukrainian foreign minister.

“The focus of all meetings will be the development of bilateral relations based on mutual respect and interests. Among the key topics will be the participation of African states in global efforts to restore a just peace for Ukraine and the world,” the statement explained

It said the talks in Malawi will focus particularly on Kyiv’s role in ensuring food security, while negotiations in Mauritius will touch on attracting investments and the participation of Mauritian businesses in Ukraine’s reconstruction and restoration from the ongoing Russian war.

“In Zambia, the minister will discuss the development of bilateral relations, political dialogue, and cooperation within the framework of international organizations,” it added.

Kuleba’s previous visit to Africa, in July 2023, included landmark visits to Equatorial Guinea and Liberia.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, Kuleba has made three separate tours of Africa in a bid to counter growing Russian influence in the region.