Sisi affirms to Zelensky Egypt's keenness to support efforts of achieving calm, peace in Ukraine

CAIRO – 30 March 2022: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed in a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, the need for addressing all means leading to calm and a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

During their Wednesday phone call, Sisi stressed Egypt’s readiness to exert all efforts to achieve this on the bilateral, regional, and international levels, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said.

The presidents discussed the developments of the Ukraine crisis as Zelensky reviewed with Sisi the updates of the path of the negotiations.

This is the second phone call between Sisi and Zelensky in a week to discuss the updates of the crisis.

First phone call

On 24 March, Sisi received a phone call from the Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the Egyptian Presidency in a statement on Thursday.

During the first phone call, Zelensky briefed Sisi on the latest developments regarding the course of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, saying that dialogue and diplomatic solutions should be upheld.

Egypt supports all endeavors that would speed up the political settlement of the crisis through the negotiations, said Sisi, adding that Egypt, with deep concern, is following up on the developments in Ukraine and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

Sisi expressed appreciation to Zelensky for the measures taken by the Ukrainian side to secure the exit of Egyptian citizens from the Ukrainian border outlets.

Also, Zelensky thanked Sisi for hosting Ukrainian tourists in Egypt’s tourist resorts and providing them with all means of assistance since the outbreak of the crisis. He also thanked Sisi for facilitating the procedures of their return to Ukraine's neighboring countries.

Top diplomats

Also, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry received a phone call from his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, who presented the latest developments on the combat and humanitarian levels as well as the pathway of negotiations.

On his side, Shoukry stressed the salience of working on sparing lives, while deploying all efforts and resorting to all means that would lead to pacification and accomplishment of a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Within that framework, Shoukry pointed out Egypt's interest to put all efforts that would achieve that outcome.

Shokry also informed the Ukrainian minister that the issue was discussed at the Arab League's extraordinary meeting and that the organization formed a communication task force to follow up on the crisis.

Talking to Putin

On 9 March, Sisi held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, where they exchanged views on the crisis.

The Egyptian president asserted the importance of prioritizing dialogue. He also stressed backing diplomatic endeavors aimed at reaching a political settlement to the crisis, which would in turn preserve international peace and security.

Sisi thanked Putin for paving the way for the evacuation of Egyptian citizens from Ukraine.

The two presidents discussed cooperation in developmental projects, highlighting the historic firm relations between Egypt and Russia on the official and popular levels.