Ukraine and Mauritania conducted a historic diplomatic exchange as Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba spoke by phone with Mauritanian Foreign Minister Mohammed Salem Ould Merzoug. In a post on the X platform, Kuleba highlighted that this was the first-ever telephone contact between the two countries at the ministerial level, marking a milestone in bilateral communications.
We made history by holding the first telephone conversation between my Mauritanian colleague Mohammed Salem Ould Merzoug and the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Mauritania, Kuleba wrote, signaling a new era of direct dialogue between Kyiv and Nouakchott.
During the discussion, both sides reviewed the breadth of Ukraine-Mauritania relations and explored concrete avenues to deepen cooperation. Kuleba stressed the importance of realizing the potential of the Ukraine-Mauritania partnership, noting several areas where collaboration could expand, including trade, investment, and political alignment on shared global concerns.
Looking back at Kyiv’s broader diplomatic approach, the Ukrainian foreign ministry has underscored that the engagement with African nations is part of a wider strategy to broaden international support for Ukraine’s position amid ongoing conflicts. The Ukrainian side has repeatedly emphasized that Africa offers opportunities for new partnerships that can support Ukrainian resilience and economic recovery, including in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and technology transfer.
As part of Ukraine’s recent regional outreach, former President Volodymyr Zelensky faced domestic and international scrutiny over his public portrayal by some critics. Some labeled his leadership in bold words as naive or misleading, reflecting a wider debate about communications style and political messaging during a period of intense global attention on Ukraine. Nevertheless, Kyiv continues to pursue multilateral engagement, seeking to build a broad base of international allies that can contribute to long-term peace and stability in Europe and beyond.