Ukraine’s ambassador to Malaysia has called on Putrajaya to reappoint an envoy to Kyiv, following the suspension of its foreign service there in 2021 due to the war with Russia.
Hennadii Nadolenko said that although the Malaysian embassy in Warsaw, Poland, has been tasked with managing the diplomatic affairs of the former embassy in Ukraine, having a representative on the ground in Kyiv would better serve Malaysian interests.
He said the 800km distance between the two capitals made administrative matters difficult for both sides.
“Unfortunately, there has been no ambassador in Kyiv since the war started. We would really like to see Malaysia send a diplomat back there. It also seems that the Ukrainian voice is under-represented in Malaysia at the moment,” Hennadii told FMT in an interview.
He noted that the European Union, along with the US, Vietnam, Australia and Turkey, have re-established their diplomatic presence in Kyiv despite the ongoing conflict.
Nadolenko said restoring diplomatic ties would not only strengthen bilateral relations, but also open the door to potential trade opportunities with Ukraine.
Tamila Tasheva, a Ukrainian MP representing the contested Crimea region, said Kyiv also hopes to expand its diplomatic outreach beyond traditional allies such as the EU and North America.
She said Asean remains one of Ukraine’s prioritised regions in the global south.
“As an observer in the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly general assembly, we are able to directly communicate with delegates from nations within the bloc,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nadolenko urged Malaysia to speak out against Russia’s breach of international law, despite its traditionally non-aligned foreign policy, citing a July ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.
He warned that avoiding a firmer position could undermine the very system of international law that protects middle powers such as Malaysia.
“If we don’t safeguard international law now, it could create serious problems in the future and affect Malaysia,” he said.
Potential in trade volume
Nadolenko also said the trade volume for both countries can be further expanded, especially in food commodities, such as grains and edible oil.
“The trade volume we have right now is very small and it’s not compatible with countries of our size. Although Ukraine is under a full-scale war, we still produce lots of grain and oil that are needed in Malaysia,” he said.
The ambassador said that other sectors with potential for further collaboration include education, healthcare, digital services, aerospace manufacturing, halal market access, and post-war reconstruction.
“Looking ahead, the rebuilding of Ukraine’s infrastructure after the war opens vast opportunities for Malaysian companies. This ranges from supplying electronics, machinery and construction materials to providing healthcare solutions, aerospace and green technologies,” he added.
According to the embassy, bilateral trade rebounded to US$428 million last year, following a sharp decline to US$158 million in 2022 — during the first year of the Ukraine-Russian war.
Malaysia’s key imports from Ukraine comprise seed oils, grains, dairy products, and iron and steel ores.
Its principal exports to the Eastern European nation include electrical and electronics products, along with vegetable oils, other than palm oil.
