TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi in a virtual press conference on Wednesday confirmed President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s plan to conduct state visits to Russia and Ukraine at the end of June. She asserted that the President’s visit to the war-stricken countries is to encourage peace.

She added that Jokowi chose to contribute to the geopolitical issue as Indonesia is hosting the G20 Presidency and is a member of the UN Secretary General’s global crisis response group. He also aims to contribute to the food supply crisis caused by the war.

“Those are caused by the war, where its effects are felt by every nation, especially developing and low-income countries. [The President] will continue to champion the spirit of peace,” said Minister Retno on June 22.

Previously reported, Russian news agency TASS reported Moscow’s plan to welcome Jokowi scheduled for June 30, which is said to be a crucial visit.

Apart from the plan to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, Jokowi will also meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, though the exact schedule for this is still undetermined.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and entering the fourth month of the humanitarian crisis, the war has started to threaten a rise of the global food and energy crisis.

African and European countries have particularly been affected by the developing crisis with prices of wheat, cooking oil, fuel, and fertilizer soaring after the attack on Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of the global grain supply. Russia is also a major global exporter of fertilizers and Ukraine is a major exporter of corn and sunflower oil.

DANIEL AHMAD

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