At a diplomatic reception in Kyiv marking the 80th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Ukraine, Arif Muhammad Basalama, announced the deepening of bilateral relations and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to the principles of international law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. He expressed hope for the speedy establishment of peace in Ukraine.
According to the diplomat, 2025 will mark the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In the political sphere, key milestones were the visit of President Joko Widodo to Kyiv in 2022 and the meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and then-President-elect of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto in 2023. In February 2025, Indonesia supported the UN General Assembly resolution on a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine.
The economy is showing upward momentum: in 2024, bilateral trade reached $785.1 million (+43.3% y/y), and over the past five years, the trade surplus has grown by 11.23%. The parties are expanding cooperation in investment and joint production: in 2024, 426 projects of Ukrainian FDI in Indonesia worth $32.5 million were registered. The main commodity flows include palm oil, margarine, coffee, and Ukrainian grain as an important component of global food security.
Cooperation is also developing in the humanitarian and educational spheres. In 2025, it is planned to open an Indonesian Studies Center at the Nezhin State University named after N. V. Gogol and sign a number of documents between universities in Indonesia and Ukraine (including the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, the National Academy of Culture and Arts Management, Podolsk State University), as well as exchanges in the media and science.
The ambassador recalled the internal priorities of the new administration in Jakarta—the launch of the Free Nutritious Meals program (free nutritious meals for children) and the creation of the Danantara Sovereign Wealth Fund to attract long-term investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, technology, agriculture, and high value-added industries. These initiatives, he said, reflect the commitment to sustainable and inclusive development that Indonesia brings to its international partnerships.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Indonesia were established on June 11, 1992. The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Kyiv has been operating since January 1994.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Olga Selikh as Ukraine’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Sultanate of Oman. The relevant decree No. 531/2025 has been published on the website of the head of state.
Olga Selikh has many years of diplomatic experience working in the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has held various positions in the central office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions abroad. Until recently, she worked in one of the departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for the Middle East and North Africa.
The Sultanate of Oman officially established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1992. The Ukrainian Embassy in Muscat began its work in 2018. Bilateral cooperation is developing in the fields of trade, education, agriculture, and energy. Oman remains one of Ukraine’s key partners in the Persian Gulf region.
The appointment of a new ambassador to Muscat reflects Ukraine’s desire to intensify bilateral ties and expand its economic and political presence in the region.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 519/2025 appointing Oleksandr Balanutsa as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), headquartered in Abu Dhabi.
Alexander Balanuța is an experienced diplomat who previously served as Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Kuwait. Since 2024, he has also served as Ukraine’s Special Representative for Cooperation with the Arab Countries of the Persian Gulf.
His appointment to the UAE is a logical continuation of his diplomatic mission in the Middle East. Balanuța has been actively working to expand economic, energy, and investment ties between Ukraine and countries in the region, including on attracting investment in Ukraine’s renewable energy sector.
Ukraine and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 1992. The Ukrainian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been operating since 1993. The Emirates are one of Ukraine’s key partners in the Middle East, especially in the context of trade, high technology, and energy.
The appointment of the new ambassador demonstrates Ukraine’s intention to deepen cooperation with the UAE and international institutions such as IRENA in the context of the global energy transition.
IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) is an international agency for renewable energy, founded in 2009, which brings together 169 countries (as of 2025). The organization’s goal is to promote sustainable development and the use of all forms of renewable energy worldwide. The agency’s headquarters are located in Abu Dhabi (UAE). Ukraine has been a full member of IRENA since 2018.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Hennadiy Nadolenko as Ukraine’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Malaysia. The relevant decree No. 526/2025 has been published on the website of the head of state.
Prior to this appointment, Nadolenko served as director of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has significant diplomatic experience. He also previously represented Ukraine in the Middle East: from 2007 to 2021, he was Ukraine’s ambassador to the State of Israel, and in the 2000s, he served in Turkey.
Hennadii Nadolenko was born in 1960, graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the Diplomatic Academy. He has served in the diplomatic service since the 1990s and holds the rank of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Malaysia were established in 1992. The Ukrainian Embassy has been operating in Kuala Lumpur since 2004.
Malaysia is an important partner for Ukraine in Southeast Asia, especially in the areas of trade, education, and international security.
Decree No. 529/2025 appointed Andriy Plakhotniuk Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Canada and Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Prior to this appointment, Mr. Plakhotniuk served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Sweden since 2021. Previously, he worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, in particular in the Department of International Organizations and embassies abroad.
He holds a PhD in Political Science and is fluent in several foreign languages. Andriy Plakhotniuk is known for his active position in promoting Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration and strengthening bilateral cooperation in defense and high technology.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Canada were established on January 27, 1992.
Ukraine has one of the largest Ukrainian embassies in the world in Canada, and more than 1.3 million Ukrainians and their descendants live in the country.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Decree No. 523/2025 on the appointment of Andriy Kasyanov as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Angola.
Prior to his appointment to Luanda, Andrii Kasyanov served as Charge d’Affaires of Ukraine in Germany. He is a career diplomat, having worked in the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, as well as in Ukrainian diplomatic missions in West Africa and Central Europe. He is known for his participation in negotiations on humanitarian and economic issues, as well as for projects to develop bilateral ties with the countries of the Global South.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Angola were established in 1992. The Embassy of Ukraine in Angola was opened later as part of the strategy to expand Ukraine’s presence in Africa. Today, areas of cooperation include the agricultural sector, education, medical equipment, and participation in UN peacekeeping initiatives.
Kasyanov’s appointment demonstrates Kyiv’s intention to intensify ties with Angola, one of the largest economies on the African continent, and strengthen political dialogue, including through support for Ukraine on international platforms.
