Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is focusing on the global impact of the energy and food crisis of the war in Ukraine during meetings with counterparts on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, according to UN diplomats familiar with the matter. Kuleba is doing this with a specific goal in mind: To try to maintain solidarity among the nations that support Ukraine, recognizing the impact the war is having on their country, diplomats said. While the devastation in Ukraine is immense, Ukrainian officials believe that highlighting how the war’s impact outside Ukraine’s borders is likely to lead to continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. The food crisis is a central knock-on effect felt globally, and Ukrainians are pushing to preserve and extend the current grain deal, diplomats said. Kuleba also plans to privately embarrass the leaders of countries that get cheap oil from Russia, saying they are profiting from Ukraine’s victimization, a diplomat said. Meanwhile, U.S. and European officials feel confident this week will fuel continued support for Ukraine, U.S. and European officials said. There are a number of factors that contribute to this expectation. First, Ukraine’s gains on the battlefield put the wind at their backs because it would not be good for countries to back off from supporting Ukraine while they are having success. Second, comments by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian President Narendra Modi last week give further impetus to holding the line on support for Ukraine, officials said. Some background: Last week, Modi told Putin that “today is not a war” – a significant rebuke from a leader who has remained largely silent on the conflict throughout its more than six months. On Thursday, during a meeting with the Chinese leader, Putin acknowledged Xi’s “questions and concerns” about the war.
