Jokowi Meets Putin Following Zelensky, Steps in as Mediator
Putin: "Result of Western Countries' Faulty Energy Policies"
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Joko Widodo (Jokowi), President of Indonesia, discussed the Ukraine crisis and international food issues with Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. Previously, Jokowi met with Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, and attempted mediation between the two sides, but President Putin reiterated his existing stance that all responsibility lies with Ukraine and the West.
According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 30th (local time), Jokowi visited Moscow and held talks with President Putin at the Kremlin. Jokowi reportedly conveyed to Putin the discussions held with President Zelensky in Ukraine the previous day and the situation in Ukraine.
At a press conference after the meeting, President Jokowi stated, "I delivered a message from Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, to President Putin and expressed readiness to help build relations between the two leaders," emphasizing, "It is important to advance peaceful solutions and resume dialogue between Russia and Ukraine."
However, President Putin repeated his existing position that the responsibility for the Ukraine crisis and the food crisis lies entirely with Ukraine and the West. President Putin said, "The rise in international gas prices and fertilizer issues are unrelated to Russia's 'special military operation' in Ukraine and are the result of the West's misguided energy policies," adding, "Russia is not obstructing the transportation of Ukrainian grain, and Ukraine must first remove mines from its ports."
President Putin claimed, "The Ukrainian military has laid mines in their own ports. No one is preventing them from removing the mines and transporting grain from there. We guarantee safety," and argued, "There are also ways to transport grain through Romania, Poland, Belarus, and the Sea of Azov."
He further emphasized regarding the grain volume in Ukraine, "The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 6 million tons, and our assessment is 5 million tons. Considering the international production is 800 million tons, this amount cannot affect the international market at all."
Regarding President Putin's remarks, President Jokowi said, "The international food supply issue will not improve without Russian fertilizer and Ukrainian wheat," and conveyed that he urged the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) to ensure that sanctions against Russia do not affect food and fertilizer supplies.
Meanwhile, as the chair of the Group of Twenty (G20) this year, President Jokowi made consecutive visits to Ukraine and Russia, meeting with Presidents Zelensky and Putin to mediate efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis. Despite pressure from the West, he invited President Putin along with President Zelensky to the G20 summit scheduled to be held in Bali, Indonesia, this November.
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