UI Professor: President Jokowi's Diplomacy Efforts Related To Ukraine Should Be Appreciated

JAKARTA - UI Professor of International Law Hikmahanto Juwana said appreciation should be given to President Joko Widodo's diplomatic efforts who spoke with a number of heads of state, including Russia and Ukraine, so that the war in Ukraine immediately stopped.

"The President's hope is that differences between countries can be resolved peacefully in accordance with the mandate contained in Article 2 paragraph 3 of the United Nations Charter," said Hikmahanto in a written statement received in Jakarta, Saturday, April 30.

He said appreciation should also be given to President Jokowi who firmly refused the request for weapons assistance from President Zelenskyy.

Jokowi rightly rejected the request on the basis of the constitution and the principles of a free and active Indonesian foreign policy, said the academic who also serves as Chancellor of Jenderal A Yani University.

The preamble to the 1945 Constitution states that one of the reasons for the formation of the Indonesian government is to participate in carrying out world order.

He said Indonesia's stance not to send weapons aid was clearly different from that of the US and its allied countries, which continued to supply military aid to Ukraine.

The provision of weapons assistance to Ukraine actually worsened the situation, and even increased the escalation of the war, said Hikmahanto.

Currently, he said, war is no longer between Russia and Ukraine, but has shifted to a conflict between Russia and the US and its allies.

"Unfortunately, Ukraine is only used as a battlefield without paying attention to the humanitarian side of the people there," he said.

According to Hikmahanto, appreciation should also be given to Jokowi for inviting President Zelenskyy to the G20 summit meeting.

Like previous G20 presidents, Indonesia has the discretion to invite anyone it deems important to the G20 summit, said Hikmahanto.

He said the invitation to Zelenskyy was meant for the US and its allies to remain present at the November summit.