Prime Minister Hun Sen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. SPM/AFP
Prime Minister Hun Sen reiterated Cambodia’s principled position regarding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying that the Kingdom strictly adheres to the UN Charter and international laws.
Hun Sen reaffirmed the stance during his second phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 29, after their first in November.
“Cambodia deeply respects and strictly adheres to the UN Charter and international laws,” said a press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation after the call.
Cambodia has previously co-sponsored UN resolutions opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while Hun Sen also called for a dialogue to end the war and for the international community to refrain from imposing sanctions on the nuclear power.
During his latest phone call with Hun Sen, Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for Cambodia’s support and co-sponsorship of the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Resolutions and Cambodia’s position on the armed conflict. He extended thanks for Cambodia’s humanitarian assistance in helping train Ukrainian deminers last January.
Zelenskyy also appreciated Cambodia’s support for Ukraine’s bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner, after it signed the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in Phnom Penh during the 2022 ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh.
On the war in Ukraine, Hun Sen underscored the importance of seeking a dialogue to bring an end to the war and the sufferings of the Ukrainian people.
The premier also welcomed and congratulated Ukraine’s accession to the TAC and reaffirmed Cambodia’s continued support for Ukraine’s desire to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner.
Zelenskyy said in a tweet that during the phone call, he thanked Hun Sen for Cambodia’s principled position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“I noted Cambodia's training of Ukrainian demining specialists. Hopefully this cooperation will continue. I also spoke about the Peace Formula and invited Cambodia to join concrete steps towards its implementation,” he tweeted.
