The Ambassador of Ukraine in Pakistan, Markian Chechak, has requestedPakistan to play its role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad today, he hoped that by virtueof being Ukraine’s trade partner, Pakistan will take a proactive stance incondemning the war and will urge Russia to deescalate tensions and stop itsaggression.
Ambassador Chechak said that Ukraine and Pakistan remain important tradepartners. “Ukraine has supplied to Pakistan over 1.3 million tons of wheatgrain thus contributing to Pakistan’s food security last year,” he remarked.
Talking about the Pakistani diaspora and especially the students inUkraine, he said the Government of Ukraine is doing its best to ensure thesafe and smooth evacuation of Pakistani students. Temporary volunteerassistance points have been set up at the border to provide foreignstudents with food, catering, and other humanitarian needs, the ambassadorrevealed.
“Our Foreign Ministry has requested the relevant agencies of Ukraine tostep up support to all foreign citizens wishing to return to their homecountries or move to the third countries,” Ambassador Chechak announcedand added that the Ukrainian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers are in touchfor the resolution of this issue.
Talking about refugees, he said that according to international reports,about half a million refugees have already left Ukraine while Russianmilitary aggression threatens thousands of foreigners residing in Ukraine.Lamenting the Russian invasion, Ambassador Chechak said it has put theirlives at high risk.
Read Top Stories
He also gave a briefing about the latest developments of the Russia-Ukrainewar and said that Russian forces have also targeted civilians includingchildren and old age homes. He stated that Ukraine has filed a petition inthe International Court of Justice against Russian atrocities.
The ambassador mentioned that it is difficult to speak as an ambassadorwhile his family is at war.
Ambassador Chechak thanked Pakistan for its sincere support for evacuatingUkrainian citizens from Afghanistan in August last year and said, “We aregrateful to all countries for their support in our efforts for our ownintegrity”.
