Jokowi-Putin Meeting Deemed to Discuss More on Investment than Peacekeeping Mission

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The meeting between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, Moscow on Thursday, June 30, was considered to discuss more of Russia's investment opportunities in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Jokowi's initial intention was to carry out the peacekeeping mission amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

An International Affairs observer at Bandung's Parahyangan University, Yulius P Hermawan, suspected that Putin's attitude who discussed a lot more economic cooperation was because he was not interested in talking about war with Jokowi. He added that Putin was not even interested in the messages of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered by Jokowi.

"It seems that in the context of these tensions, Putin was not really interested. Including when Pak Jokowi conveyed Zelensky's messages to Putin. (Putin) didn't seem interested in discussing further on the conflicts," said Yulius when contacted by Tempo, Saturday, July 2.

Yulius regretted that the impression that emerged after the meeting was no longer about Indonesia's efforts to become a peacemaker. It was as if Jokowi was only pursuing the national interest for the security of the fertilizer supply chain which could have an impact on national food.

"Kremlin saw this as a regular bilateral visit, meaning that the offer to become a peacemaker amid the deadlock of solution did not appear to be in line with the initial expectations," said Yulius.

In Thursday's meeting, one of the messages delivered by Jokowi to Putin was that Indonesia supports the UN's effort for the reintegration of Russian food products and fertilizers, as well as Ukrainian food, into the global supply chains.

Jokowi said that food and fertilizer issues are highly important for the international community. He argued that hundreds of people suffered from the supply intervention, especially in developing countries, due to the Russia-Ukraine war. 

President Jokowi asserted that Indonesia suggests that the war be ended immediately and hoped for the revival of food, fertilizer, and energy supply chains.

M Julnis Firmansyah

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