In a recent phone call with Gambian President Adama Barrow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that they discussed cooperation on peace restoration and food security. He also welcomed Gambian students back to secure oblasts of Ukraine for educational programmes.

According to Zelenskyy’s X, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conversed with Gambian President Adama Barrow via telephone, thereby reestablishing “contact at the highest level” between Ukraine and Gambia following a 20-year hiatus.

Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for Gambia’s attendance at the Peace Summit and its endorsement of the final communiqué.

The two leaders deliberated on potential opportunities for collaboration between Ukraine and Africa to promote food security and restore peace.

In 2023, British intelligence issued a warning that the food security of Africa would be exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine, as a result of the disruption of cereal supplies and the subsequent increase in prices.

Russian forces also attacked the port of Pivdennyi in Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast in April, resulting in the destruction of grain storage facilities and agricultural products intended for Asia and Africa. This attack caused over $300 million in damages and impacted nearly 1,000 employment.

Zelenskyy also emphasised that Gambian students had studied in Ukraine prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion, and he extended an invitation to them to return to Ukraine’s safer oblasts.

Ukraine’s Global Peace Summit was ratified by whom?
An additional 10 countries, in addition to Gambia, joined the final communiqué after the Peace Summit concluded in June. These countries include Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Somalia, Suriname, Zambia, and Malawi.

A communiqué was signed by 80 countries and four international organisations, which endorsed a peace framework for Ukraine. The framework includes Serbia and Hungary, which are currently governed by Russian-aligned governments.

Nevertheless, the final document was not signed by a number of countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Colombia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Armenia.

Initially, Iraq and Jordan signed the document; however, they subsequently withdrew their signatures.