Minister Of Foreign Affairs Retno Calls Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, Indonesia Calls On All Parties To Refrain From Ukraine's Border Crisis

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi received a visit from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Jakarta some time ago. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno, called on all parties to exercise restraint regarding the crisis on Ukraine's border with Russia, encourage dialogue and work diplomacy to resolve the issue, after speaking with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.

Head of the Strategic Support Bureau for the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Achmad Rizal Purnama, said the two foreign ministers' phone calls took place last Wednesday.

"The core of normal talks, especially regarding the progress of bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the agenda for high-level visits between the two countries", Rizal said in a virtual press statement Thursday, February 10.

On this occasion, Rizal said that Indonesia, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as said by Foreign Minister Retno, was following with great concern the development of the situation on the Russia-Ukraine border.

"Indonesia asks all parties to refrain from providing space for dialogue and diplomacy to work because in the current difficult situation all countries are responsible for conveying messages of peace", he quoted Foreign Minister Retno as saying.

"Conflict does not benefit anyone. The current world's energy must be directed to overcome the pandemic and the recovery of the world economy. Everyone expects diplomacy and negotiations to work to be able to resolve whatever problems they face. We don't want to see conflict", continued Rizal.

On the same occasion, Director of the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, added that until now the situation in Ukraine is normal and safe, with the current number of Indonesian citizens reaching 145 people, with the majority in the capital city of Kyiv.

"The condition of our Indonesian citizens is healthy, safe, and calm with the Indonesian Embassy in establishing communication via WhatsApp. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperates with the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv, the Indonesian Embassy in Warsaw, and the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow to build a contingency plan in the event of an escalation of the situation, by standard SOPs that all representatives must have", said Judha.

For information, Western countries led by the United States fear that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine, with about 100,000 troops gathered near the two countries borders.

Meanwhile, Moscow said it was not planning an invasion, but could take unspecified "military-technical measures" unless several security demands were met, including a pledge from Nato never to recognize Kyiv.