The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Ukraine, together with the National Academy of Culture and Arts Management (NAKAKIM), held a formal reception in Kyiv to mark National Batik Day, recognized by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The event was attended by about 150 guests, including representatives of the diplomatic corps, government authorities, students, and the scientific community.
In his welcoming speech, Arif Muhammad Basalamah, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia to Ukraine, noted that batik is not just a fabric, but a cultural heritage that embodies the history, values, and identity of the Indonesian people.
“Batik is a story of harmony, creativity, and wisdom passed down through generations. By wearing batik, we carry within ourselves values and identity that have been nurtured for centuries,” the diplomat emphasized.
NAKKKiM Rector Valery Marchenko congratulated the Indonesian delegation and awarded the ambassador the title of Honorary Professor of the Academy, noting the importance of cultural exchange and further development of academic cooperation.
The program of the celebration included a presentation on batik, dance and vocal performances by students, as well as the performance of the national anthems of Indonesia and Ukraine on the Ukrainian bandura. An exhibition of batik and the tools used to create it was organized in the university lobby. The event concluded with a tasting of traditional Indonesian dishes—nasi goreng, mie goreng, bakwan, and kue lumpur.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Indonesia were established on June 5, 1992. The Ukrainian Embassy in Jakarta opened in 1995, and the Indonesian Embassy in Kyiv began operating in 1994.
In recent years, the countries have also been developing cooperation in the fields of education, culture, and tourism. In 2024–2025, Indonesia signed two protocols on market access for Ukrainian products — peas and aquatic biological resources — which should stimulate further growth in trade in agricultural products.
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ukraine organized a formal reception in Kyiv to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. The event was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, Ukrainian authorities, business circles, and the Chinese diaspora.
In his welcoming speech, Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun emphasized that China has gone from being a post-conflict state to the world’s second largest economy, and today strives for “high-quality development” and global cooperation. “We have built a society of universal prosperity, lifted 800 million people out of poverty, and created the world’s largest education, healthcare, and social security systems,” he said.
The diplomat noted that between 2021 and 2024, China’s GDP grew by an average of 5.5% per year, and China’s economy is expected to exceed US$19.5 trillion in 2025. Ma Shenkun also mentioned successes in the field of high technology: the development of 5G infrastructure, electric vehicles, space and quantum projects.
He stressed that China and Ukraine are strategic partners: “Our cooperation is based on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and sustainable development. In 2025, we have already signed two protocols on the export of Ukrainian peas and water resources to China.”
In addition, the ambassador expressed understanding for the challenges Ukraine faces today and assured that China will continue to advocate for a ceasefire and the promotion of a peaceful settlement.
During the reception, toasts were made to strengthen Sino-Ukrainian friendship, and cultural performances and exhibitions reflecting the cultural heritage of both countries were presented.
Ma Shengkun took office as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ukraine on November 26, 2024.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and China were established on January 4, 1992. The Chinese Embassy in Kyiv began operating in December 1992.
Ukraine will soon open four new embassies in Latin America—in the Dominican Republic, Panama, Uruguay, and Ecuador, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga said following his participation in the High-Level Dialogue between the Council of Ministers of the Association of Caribbean States and ACS Observer States in New York. According to the Foreign Ministry’s press service, the minister spoke about Ukraine’s desire to expand cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean, in particular to open new embassies in the Dominican Republic, Panama, Uruguay, and Ecuador. The foreign minister proposed holding the first Ukraine-Caribbean summit to develop cooperation. He also assured the Caribbean Community of Ukraine’s interest in participating in further activities of the Caribbean Community at all levels.
Sybiga also stated Ukraine’s readiness to share with the Caribbean countries its unique experience of resilience gained during the war, particularly in the defense and technology sectors. The minister emphasized that
Ukraine possesses unique unmanned technologies, including marine and underwater drones, which can be used for both defense and civilian purposes, particularly in agriculture, patrolling, and other areas.
The Foreign Minister announced Ukraine’s readiness to discuss the possibility of joint research with Caribbean countries in the fight against climate change. Ukraine shares the urgency of overcoming the climate crisis and has unique opportunities for Antarctic research. These include, in particular, the Akademik Vernadsky station and the Noosfera icebreaker.
The Embassy of the United Mexican States in Ukraine held a formal diplomatic reception in Kyiv to mark the 215th anniversary of Mexican Independence Day. The event took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
In his speech, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mexico to Ukraine, Audensio Contreras Gonzalez, emphasized the significance of this holiday for the Mexican people and thanked the Ukrainian authorities and diplomatic corps for their assistance in developing bilateral relations.
“Mexico highly values its friendship and cooperation with Ukraine. Our foreign policy is based on respect for the right of peoples to self-determination, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference, and international cooperation,” the diplomat stressed.
He also noted that more than three years after the start of the war in Ukraine, Mexico hopes to intensify diplomatic efforts that will allow the conflict to be resolved through negotiations.
The ambassador stressed that bilateral relations between Mexico and Ukraine are developing in the areas of trade, investment, culture, and education, and that the countries are striving to further strengthen them. “May the friendship between Mexico and Ukraine continue to grow stronger, and may our partnership contribute to a future filled with mutual understanding, cooperation, and prosperity,” he said.
Mexico recognized Ukraine’s independence on December 24, 1991. Diplomatic relations between the countries were established on January 14, 1992.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Mexico opened in 1997, and the Embassy of Mexico in Ukraine opened in 2005.
The current Mexican ambassador to Ukraine, Audensio Contreras Gonzalez, presented his credentials to the President of Ukraine on August 16, 2024 (copies of the credentials were presented on June 18, 2024).
On July 23, 2024, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Ukraine, Mr. Barakat Elayti, held a diplomatic reception to celebrate the country’s main national holiday—the 73rd anniversary of the 1952 Egyptian Revolution, which overthrew the monarchy of King Farouk and established a republican system.
The July Revolution marked not only the beginning of Egypt’s liberation from colonial rule, but also sparked a wave of struggle for freedom and self-determination in the Arab world and on the African continent.
The ceremony was attended by guests of honor: heads of diplomatic missions of foreign states accredited in Ukraine, representatives of state authorities, including Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine for International Policy Ihor Zhovkva, Special Representative of Ukraine for the Middle East and Africa Maksym Subkh, Islamic religious leaders, and members of the Egyptian diaspora.
At the beginning of his speech, the Ambassador of Egypt to Ukraine congratulated all those present on this important date in the history of the Arab Republic of Egypt, noting that “this is not only a national holiday—it is a shared moment of remembrance, reflection, and reaffirmation of the values that continue to unite us: freedom, dignity, and sovereign independence.”
“July 23, 1952, is a date engraved not only in the collective memory of the Egyptian people, but also in the broader historical context of the entire Middle East,” he emphasized.
In his speech, the Head of the Diplomatic Mission emphasized the strong relations with Ukraine and expressed his conviction in the friendly nature and positive development of mutually beneficial and multifaceted Egyptian-Ukrainian cooperation.
According to him, relations between Egypt and Ukraine have a long and successful history, “as historical sources show, Ukrainian engineers worked in Egypt as early as the 19th century, participating in the large-scale modernization initiated by Muhammad Ali Pasha.”
Mr. Barakat El-Eity noted that after Ukraine gained independence and diplomatic relations were established between the two countries, the trend of healthy and sustainable development of Egyptian-Ukrainian relations has continued, and bilateral cooperation in all areas has been fruitful.
On July 2, 2025, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on opening a new era of strategic cooperation.
The ambassador stressed that “peace, justice, and respect for the sovereignty of states are not just ideals, but the foundation of Egypt’s foreign policy.”
“These principles shape our position in international affairs. They determine our firm response to aggression and injustice, whether it be the horrors in Gaza or the ongoing war in Ukraine,” he added.
The diplomat also noted that “Egypt, along with many like-minded countries, is ready to do everything necessary to support efforts to alleviate suffering, stop the horrors of war, and return to the path of dialogue instead of destruction, progress instead of pain, and unity instead of division.”
Greetings on the occasion of the holiday were expressed by the Ukrainian government: Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine for International Policy Ihor Zhovkva, who read greetings from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and
Special Representative of Ukraine for the Middle East and Africa, Ukrainian diplomat and historian Maksym Subkh.
The Arab Republic of Egypt recognized Ukraine’s independence on January 3, 1992. On January 25, 1992, diplomatic relations were established between Ukraine and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
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On the first day of the annual meeting of heads of foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine 2025 under the slogan “From the power of diplomacy to the diplomacy of strength”, Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga announced plans to open four more embassies by the end of this year.
According to the MFA website, these are embassies in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay. At the same time, the Minister informed about the reduction of Ukraine’s diplomatic presence in Cuba. According to him, the freed-up resources will be used to strengthen Ukraine’s presence in the region.
The Minister also announced plans to open more than 10 new consular offices by the end of this year. The new consulates will be opened in Romania, Iraq, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, and two in France and Poland. In addition, the status of Ukraine’s consulates in Antalya and Gdansk will be raised to the level of consulates general.
Sybiga emphasized that Ukraine’s diplomatic service is initiating new strategies and revising previous ones.
“We look to the future and already see the global role of Ukraine, including in the post-war period. This is a meeting about the future and our geopolitical role,” he said.
In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the first time initiated and prepared the Strategy of Ukraine on the Arctic, Antarctic and Oceans.
“This will allow us to guarantee Ukraine’s voice in global processes in the future,” he emphasized.
