Minister Of Foreign Affairs Retno: Indonesia Consistently Asks For Russia And Ukraine To Stop War For The Sake Of Humanity

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi (Photo: Nailin In Saroh/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, stated that Indonesia has consistently demanded that the war between Russia and Ukraine be stopped immediately. Because, if the war continues it will cause the condition of humanity to worsen.

"If the war is not stopped, then the humanitarian condition in Ukraine will get worse," said Foreign Minister Retno during a Working Meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 6.

Currently, said Retno, there are 4.2 million people displaced outside of Ukraine and 6.5 million internally displaced. "And the number of fatalities is getting bigger," she continued.

Retno said Indonesia hopes that the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will be intensified to seek a peace settlement, a ceasefire, and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

She revealed a meeting with Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova in Doha on March 27, 2022. As well as talking by telephone with her in February 2022.

"I met one-on-one with Minister Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov) in Tunxi, on March 20," she said.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, said Retno, said that food supplies in Ukraine were running low due to the war. Therefore, according to him, Ukraine on several occasions met with other countries asking for food assistance, including Indonesia.

"For the sake of humanity, Indonesia is considering providing humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people," she said.

In addition, Retno also conveyed Indonesia's active steps in establishing communication with various countries including Ukraine and Russia regarding the war conditions in Ukraine.

In these meetings, he said, messages were always conveyed that Indonesia was consistent in upholding the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Indonesia chose 'yes' for the resolution of aggression against Ukraine on March 2, 2022, and the resolution of the humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine on March 24, 2022," said Retno.