Ukraine condemned Mali’s decision to sever diplomatic ties, calling it short-sighted and hasty, stating that no evidence was provided linking Kyiv to the recent fighting that killed Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries.
Mali announced the immediate severance of relations with Ukraine on Sunday, following remarks by Ukraine’s military spy agency regarding clashes in northern Mali in late July. Tuareg rebels claimed responsibility for killing at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers, marking Wagner’s heaviest defeat since joining Mali’s fight against insurgents.
“It is regrettable that Mali decided to sever relations without thoroughly investigating the facts and circumstances and without providing any evidence of Ukraine’s involvement,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry stated.
Following the clashes, Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military spy agency, suggested in televised remarks that Malian rebels received the “necessary” information for the attack. However, Ukraine stopped short of confirming its involvement.
Mali accused Ukraine of making “subversive remarks,” interpreting them as an admission of involvement and condemning the actions as violations of Malian sovereignty and support for international terrorism.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry rejected the allegation, stating that Ukraine adheres to international law and respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries. The ministry viewed Mali’s move as unfriendly and reserved the right to take necessary political and diplomatic measures in response.
The diplomatic fallout comes as Ukraine seeks to garner global support, particularly from the Global South. Oleksandr Merezhko, head of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign policy committee, predicted that the rupture would not have serious consequences for Ukraine or its relations with the Global South.
“There will be no serious consequences, as there are no established relations between Mali and Ukraine today,” Merezhko told Interfax-Ukraine.
