Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Argentina on Saturday (December 9) to attend the inauguration of Argentina’s new President Javier Milei. This is President Zelensky’s first visit to Latin America.
Zelenskiy’s visit, announced on the Telegram messaging app, will focus on Ukraine’s long-running efforts to drum up support from the global South for Ukraine’s war.
Zelensky said he met Cape Verde Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva on his way to Argentina and thanked him for “condemning the Russian invasion” and supporting Ukraine’s initiative .
Zelensky wants to convene a “global peace summit” to promote a peace plan based on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and recognition of its 1991 post-Soviet borders.
Ukraine has been trying to build relations with governments in Africa, Asia and Latin America but has found its support for Israel at odds with the positions of some local countries.
Ukrainian media speculated this week that Milley’s inauguration could provide an opportunity for Zelenskiy to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to resolve differences over Ukraine’s EU membership.
The EU summit next week will decide whether to launch accession negotiations with Ukraine and neighboring Moldova in response to the recommendations of the European Commission.
Decisions must be made unanimously, but Orban has repeatedly expressed opposition to starting negotiations now.
Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said this week that he was trying to arrange an appropriate time for Zelensky to meet with Orban.
Orban shares Argentina’s new president’s advocacy of right-wing views. He posted on X on Saturday that he had met with Millay. Orban praised the right’s electoral success “not just in Europe but around the world.”
(This article is based on a Reuters report.)