Nigeria urges Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine, advises diplomatic solution to conflict

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, met with envoys of the G7 countries in Abuja, Friday, as he conveyed Nigeria’s desire for peace to be pursued by all parties to the conflict in Ukraine following the country’s invasion by Russia.

During the meeting, Nigeria called on the Russian government to withdraw its troops in Ukraine, urging President Vladimir Putin to instead adopt diplomacy instead of aggression in resolving the conflict.

The call was made by the Onyeama, who expressed worries over the Russian-Ukraine conflict, called for an embrace of peace by both parties.

Further, he said ‘Nigeria does not condone the approach of aggression by Russia; even as he called on the Russian government to pull back its troops from Ukraine.’

“Peace and diplomacy to be prioritised by both sides. We support every effort being made to stop the aggression and Russian troops to return to Russia,” the minister said.

Nigeria, had earlier Thursday, disclosed plans for a special flight operation to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine in view of the escalating tension between that country and Russia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama in an exclusive interview with NTA said the Nigerian embassy in Kiev has been contacted to arrange those wishing to the return home from other areas including Donestk and Luhensk.

The minister assured Nigerians that the ministry is following the event since beginning and promised to do everything for the safety of Nigerians in Ukraine, particularly students.

The development, however, comes after the Ukraine Government closed civil aviation operations as the country’s major airport in Kiev was the target of Russian missile attacks, Thursday.

 “The Government wishes to assure the families with loved ones in Ukraine that as soon as the airports in the country are opened, it would assist in facilitating the evacuation of Nigerians who are willing to leave,” the statement read.

In a separate meeting behind closed doors with the Russian and Ukrainian envoys, Onyeama said he told the Russian envoy, Shebarshin that Nigeria as a country would not condone the violation of the territorial integrity of a United Nations member state, a country with which Nigeria has diplomatic relations.

Speaking after his meeting with the Ukrainian envoy, Onyeama said the government sympathised with Ukraine regarding its situation as a country and as a people, in view of the heavy bombardment, which has led to loss of lives.

On the evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine, Onyeama said the issue could only come up when the airports reopened, even as he urged the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine to act as a coordinating mechanism in reaching out to all Nigerians in Ukraine and ensure that they adhered to all the advice and directives.

This is also as the Ukraine Ambassador to Nigeria, Kirdoda Valerii, told the Federal Government that it is not possible right now to evacuate Nigerian students from Ukraine as the sky is not safe.

Onyeama said that during discussions, the Russian envoy stated that they would possibly also see some airports as military targets.

The minister said that they also discussed road travel to facilitate the evacuation, even though some Nigerians were able to get into neighbouring countries such as Holland.

Onyeama told the Ukrainian envoy that Nigeria has more than 5,000 students and either citizens in the country and very concerned about their safety and welfare.

“I told the Ukrainian envoy that we want the cooperation of the Government of Ukraine to do whatever is possible to ensure their safety and security and to also seek advice as to how the evacuation can be facilitated,” Onyeama added.

The Russian envoy however told Onyeama that there might be risk involved, while also saying that Russia was mindful of the civilians from foreign countries and that they would take all the necessary measures to ensure their security.

The Ukrainian envoy expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Nigeria for their support.

“Right now, we are in a very difficult situation, but we are fighting against the aggression and we believe that we will all win,” the Ukrainian envoy said.

Valerii also said Nigerian students in Ukraine were in the same situation as anybody else on the territory of Ukraine.

“Ukrainian Government does not differentiate between people on the basis of their nationality and that is the best effort to protect everybody.

“Currently, the evacuation of Nigerian students is not possible because it is not safe to fly on the sky of Ukraine.

“As soon as it is safe to fly on the sky of Ukraine, we will join the Embassy of Nigeria in Ukraine and jointly with the Nigerian Government, we will arrange for the evacuation of Nigerian Students,” Valeri said.

Meanwhile, the position of Nigeria is in line with the earlier statement issued by the South African Government which expressed concern over the ongoing tensions in the Ukraine and Russia border, a situation, the country warned  if allowed to further deteriorate, ‘could have regional and global ramifications.’

A statement by the southern African nation, Thursday, urged ‘all parties to devote increased efforts to diplomacy and to find a solution that will help de-escalate tensions and avert armed conflict.’

Reacting to the latest full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor said: “All parties have much to gain from a negotiated outcome and much to lose from an unnecessary and violent conflict.”

The country, therefore, called on the UN Security Council to ‘play a central role in the search for peace.’

“The UNSC is the body given the mandate for maintenance of international peace and security and it must exercise its role fully. As South Africa, we believe all the issues of concern to any of the parties must be addressed in inclusive talks led by the UNSC.

“The world does not need another war as that will result in death and destruction, hence our call for enhanced diplomacy,” Pandor said.