Ukrainian Foreign Minister asks Iran to end support for Russia

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. (Wikimedia Commons/Parlamentul Republicii Moldova/Pagina oficială)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Tuesday he had contacted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, after Tehran condemned Kyiv's drone attack on one of its ships, warning him not to escalate and telling him to end all support for Russia.

"I emphasize the need to refrain from any escalation steps, as well as to end any support for Russia's war against Ukraine. This war is illegal and must end," the Foreign Minister wrote on X about his conversation with Foreign Minister Araghchi, launching Al Arabiya from Reuters (29/7).

The Mullah's country confirmed that the conversation had taken place.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Araghchi said on Sunday that Ukraine's attack on an Iranian merchant ship in the Caspian Sea, which killed one sailor and injured another, "cannot be left alone."

In his comments, Foreign Minister Sybiha said Ukraine's actions "are solely aimed at defending our country from Russian aggression and were never intended to target ships or civilians."

During more than four years of conflict with Russia, Ukraine has faced a barrage of attacks from Iranian-designed drones.

During that time, Kyiv has developed technology to counter the threat of drones and has offered its help to Middle Eastern countries facing attacks launched this year by Tehran.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X that he had spoken with Sybiha and "discussed the challenges facing our country, including the threat posed by Iran."

He wrote, he hopes to deepen cooperation with Ukraine.