Pakistan to stay ‘neutral’ as it prepares to host Ukrainian FM

Pakistan will not abandon its policy of “neutrality” on the Russia-Ukraine conflict as it prepares to host the Ukrainian foreign minister on his first-ever visit to Islamabad.

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba will undertake an official visit to Pakistan on July 20-21, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Wednesday.

The Foreign Office said that during his visit, FM Kuleba will call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also hold talks with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

“Pakistan and Ukraine enjoy close and cordial relations, particularly in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture and higher education.”

Read more: Ukrainian foreign minister to arrive in Pakistan

Kuleba’s visit is the first-ever ministerial visit from Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Ukraine in 1993. The visit is expected to contribute to further strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries, according to the Foreign Office.

The official handout was carefully drafted as there was no mention of Russia-Ukraine conflict. Official sources familiar with the agenda of the visit told The Express Tribune that the issue would certainly figure at the top during the talks since it is the number one issue for Ukraine.

But Pakistan will continue to seek the policy of neutrality. “There will be no change in our stated policy,” said a source. “We have hosted the Russian dignitaries and we are meeting Ukrainian officials too,” the source added. This was part of Pakistan’s policy to engage with all the parties, according to the source.

But despite Pakistan’s insistence on downplaying the Ukrainian FM’s visit, his engagements will be closely followed by the Western capitals and Moscow.

A senior official, while speaking on condition of anonymity, said the upcoming visit of the Ukrainian foreign minister highlighted Pakistan’s balanced approach towards the conflict.

Pakistan has resisted pressure from the West to take sides since Russia launched the invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

Islamabad has refused to condemn Moscow's action but at the same time dispatched humanitarian aid to Ukraine and called for a political solution to the conflict. Pakistan has thrice abstained from voting on a resolution at the UN General Assembly denouncing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

There were reports that Pakistan was providing weapons to Ukraine, something that has strongly been rebutted by Islamabad.