PRESS RELEASE : African countries saw how Russia blocked the Black Sea and began to support Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with Irish students [November 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 18 November 2022.

After Russia blocked the export of grain from the ports of the Black Sea region, the countries of the African continent began to gradually change their attitude towards the Russian Federation and direct the political vector to support Ukraine. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with the student community of Ireland.

“Today, gradually, country by country, the states of the African continent are beginning to understand what happened. That they were misinformed. That Russia is truly an aggressor, that it does not respect freedom, does not support life, but does the opposite. Several countries have appeared on the African continent that support us, and we can see this from the results of voting for resolutions,” said the Head of State.

He recalled the results of voting for the UN General Assembly resolution on supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine and condemning Russia’s aggression against our state.

“There was record support for Ukraine, condemnation of Russia’s aggression. More than 140 countries. African countries appeared among them. And that’s great,” stated Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Also, according to him, some African countries for the first time demonstrated support at the diplomatic stage of the Crimea Platform aimed at the de-occupation of Ukrainian Crimea.

According to the President, such a change in the attitude of a number of African countries took place after Russia began blocking the export of Ukrainian agricultural products through the Black Sea.

“African countries saw how Russia completely disgracefully blocked the Black Sea. It blocked the supply of grain – wheat, corn – from Ukraine to the African continent… And when countries began to see it, when the societies of some countries began to feel it, they began to open their eyes,” said the Head of State.

At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that there are still some African countries that, at the level of leaders, see neither the destructive actions of Russia nor the help of Ukraine, which has initiated programs to support countries suffering from the food crisis.

“There are countries to which we sent ships with grain. We really help them. We really made a corridor in the Black Sea together with the UN. And now ships have departed with wheat, and some African states do not see this at the political level,” the President noted.

According to the Head of State, this is happening, in particular, due to the powerful influence of Russian propaganda and disinformation, which has been spreading on the African continent for the past 30 years. At the same time, there were no developed relations between Ukraine and African countries for many years.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that currently one of the key tasks for Ukraine and for him personally is the unification of the whole world, including African countries, in order to put pressure on Russia to stop its aggression on Ukrainian territory.

“Help in the UN is very important for us as well – it is political and diplomatic help. Assistance in voting and supporting relevant resolutions. And here we desperately need the support of the African Union and the countries of the African continent,” said the President.