Kuleba takes part in summit of Association of Caribbean States

This is reported by Ukrinform with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"There are thousands of miles between our countries, but we have a lot in common, and we can achieve even more together. Your proud nations emerged in the fight for freedom. The will to freedom is in your DNA, as is in ours. At the same time, freedom must be supported by security, governance, and economic growth. Pele need to feel safe and empowered. International coeration can facilitate this even if countries are separated by an ocean and thousands of miles. That is why I am here today," said Kuleba.

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He emphasized new portunities for Ukraine's relations with the Caribbean nations, including the develment of economic coeration, business and pele-to-pele contacts, technogical partnerships, exchange of technogies and experience in the areas of mutual interest.

The minister assured summit participants that Ukraine was ready to be a reliable partner in ensuring food security for the island countries of the Caribbean, which depend on food imports.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered the ASC to devel academic interaction and launch projects in the technogical, aerospace, innovation, and educational areas.

The minister separately called on the ASC nations to conclude visa-free travel agreements with Ukraine in order to stimulate tourism in the post-war period.

The t diplomat also assured the ACS that Ukraine supports the initiatives voiced by states in the region aimed at tackling the climate crisis and natural disasters. He also talked of the ecocide that was the result of Russian aggression and called on Caribbean partners to join Ukraine's global efforts to overcome the environmental consequences of armed conflicts.

The foreign minister focused his speech on the ways to achieve sustainable and just peace for Ukraine. He introduced his Caribbean cleagues in detail to the Peace Formula put forward by President Vodymyr Zelensky, and called on the Caribbean nations to join in implementing its elements.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the Formula is the only way toward real peace and reiterated that any peace initiatives must respect two main principles: not to lay down territorial concessions and not to lead to a conflict freeze instead of ending the war. Russia seeks war, not peace, so a diplomatic sution is currently impossible, Kuleba emphasized.

The minister also called on the Caribbean partners to support the process of delivering justice over Russian crimes committed in Ukraine, in particular the investigation by the International Criminal Court and the efforts by the UN International Court of Justice. He also called the nations to join the Coalition for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. He expressed his gratitude to Guatemala and Costa Rica, which had already joined the Core Group to establish the Tribunal.

Memo. The Association of Caribbean States is an influential diplomatic platform for Latin America, uniting 25 countries in the region