Ukraine firmly rejects the unfounded accusations by the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger that it supports illegal armed groups and interferes in the internal affairs of the Sahel states. The Ukrainian side has repeatedly refuted such allegations. They were raised from time to time in previous years and have recently been circulated again, including during the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly in September 2026. We caution against any further disinformation on this matter. We also note that the said states have presented no credible evidence for these accusations since they severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine.

Ukraine respects the sovereignty of the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, the right of their peoples to determine their own future, and the aspiration of these states to ensure the security of their citizens. These principles are universal and indivisible. They underpin Ukraine's own position: in resisting Russian aggression, our state is likewise defending its right to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It is telling that the narratives directed against Ukraine coincide with key messages of Russian propaganda. These messages seek to undermine trust in our state and to weaken its relations with its African partners. Ukraine consistently calls for security challenges in the region to be assessed on the basis of facts rather than politically motivated accusations. At the same time, the international community should respond appropriately to reports of the activities of Russian military structures in the Sahel states, in particular their role in destabilising the region and possible human rights violations.

Ukraine has no colonial past in Africa. It builds its relations with African states on the principles of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs. As a founding member of the United Nations, Ukraine supported the principles of self-determination of peoples and decolonisation. For many years, Ukrainian servicemen took part in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa, including in Mali, contributing to international efforts to strengthen security on the continent.

Ukraine understands the aspiration of African states to strengthen their sovereignty, to choose their partners independently and to protect their national interests. However, respect for sovereignty cannot be selective. The principles rightly invoked by African states must apply equally to all states in accordance with international law. One cannot demand respect for the sovereignty of African states while denying Ukraine's right to sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

Ukraine remains open to honest and substantive dialogue with the Republic of Mali, the Republic of Niger and other states of the Sahel. We stand ready to discuss specific concerns on the basis of facts, mutual respect and international law.

We are convinced that the long-term interests of African states and Ukraine lie in strengthening their independence, security and economic resilience. Ukraine stands for equal partnership and for an international order in which the sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for international law are shared principles, not instruments of political expediency.