Jokowi Declines Zelensky's Weapons Request, Offers Role as Mediator for Peace

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi in a virtual press conference on Friday said he had turned down the request for weapons assistance from his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky as the two leaders talked on the phone on Thursday evening. 

“We also talked about requests for weapons from Indonesia, but I asserted that Indonesia’s constitution and foreign affairs principle prohibits us from providing another country with weapons,” said the President in the press conference on April 29.

Despite declining Zelensky’s request, Jokowi made it clear that Indonesia is ready and willing to provide Ukraine with humanitarian aid and go as far taking the role of mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict during the G20 Summit.

“In this context, it is the reason why I invited President Zelensky to attend the G20 Summit,” said the former Jakarta governor. 

He also said that communication was established with Russian President Vladimir Putin recently to ask about the latest update on the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. As reported earlier, Jokowi urged Putin to give peace negotiations a chance. 

“Indonesia is prepared to contribute to the attempts towards peace,” said Jokowi, “In the phone call, President Putin conveyed his appreciation for the invitation to the G20 Summit and confirmed that he will be present.”

Read: Jokowi, Putin Conversation Discusses G20, Peace Negotiations

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH