Ukraine foreign minister to visit Iraq

BAGHDAD: Ukraine´s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is expected in Baghdad on Monday on his first visit to Iraq since Russia invaded his country, the foreign ministry said.

Kuleba is due to hold talks with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein as well as Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. They will discuss “bolstering bilateral ties, as well as regional and international” issues, said the statement quoting foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed al-Sahhaf.

Kuleba´s visit comes less than a week after Sudani received a phone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. At the time, Zelensky said he was “keen to develop relations with Iraq in all fields” describing it as “a pivotal and influential country”, according to a statement from Sudani´s office.