By Spy Uganda Correspondent
For the first time in the history of bilateral relations, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a telephone conversation with President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni.
The leaders discussed Ukrainian peace initiatives at the UN and the potential for the development of bilateral relations.
“I was pleased to have the first conversation in the history of bilateral relations with President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni,” Zelensky posted on Telegram.
“I was pleased to have the first conversation in the history of bilateral relations with President of Uganda Museveni. I have outlined the Ukrainian peace initiatives at the United Nations. We also discussed potential for the development of bilateral relations,” Zelensky said.
Also, Zelensky congratulated the newly appointed head of the African Union and said that he expected close cooperation, in particular, in strengthening food security.
Museveni who is considered as being pro Russia last year hosted Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and said he had no reason to criticise Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine.
Infact, Museveni praised Russia as a partner in the struggle against colonialism going back a century.
“If Russia makes mistakes, then we tell them,” Museveni said, citing his participation in student demonstrations against the crushing of the Prague Spring by the Soviet Union in 1968.
“But when they have not made a mistake, we cannot be against them,” he said.
Many African countries, which import Russian grain and energy while also buying Ukrainian grain and benefitting from Western aid flows and trade ties, have avoided taking sides over the war in Ukraine.
Uganda was among 17 African nations that abstained in a March vote on a United Nations resolution condemning the Russian invasion, which was supported by 141 countries out of 193.
