Vietnam affirms traditional friend of both Russia, Ukraine

Vietnam has affirmed that it is a traditional friend of Russia and Ukraine, calling for restraint from both in the ongoing armed conflicts, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Sơn.

Son hoped the parties to exercise restraint and continue dialogues to find a lasting solution that conforms with international law and takes into account the legitimate interests of the parties.

Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (L) talks with Ukrainia's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Mar 16. Photo: Baoquocte

He said Vietnam is willing to join the international community in this process, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said following the phone talks between Vietnamese top diplomat Bui Thanh Son and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on March 15 and with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on March 16.

Son affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on the tension in Ukraine that international conflicts must be solved in a peaceful manner in accordance with the United Nations Charter and putting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of states first.

In the talks, the Vietnamese minister requested both Russia and Ukraine to continue opening humanitarian corridors and take measures to ensure the safety of civilians, including Vietnamese in Ukraine and evacuate them from conflict zones.

Both Lavrov and Kuleba pledged to support the drive that ensures safety for Vietnamese people.

In the phone conversation with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Son shared the loss and damage of Ukrainian people, emphasizing that Vietnam supports international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians.

Vietnam agreed to work with Ukraine to resume exchanges and cooperation after peace and stability are restored.

Returnees from Ukraine reach Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi on Mar 13. Tuan Duc/VNA

As of March 16, more than 4,600 Vietnamese people were evacuated from Ukraine to neighboring countries with the support of the Vietnamese missions abroad. Of the total, around 1,200 people were repatriated home on four flights landed on March 7, 9, 12, and 13. Two more flights from Romania and Poland bringing nearly 500 people home are scheduled for March 17 and 19.

There were about 7,000 Vietnamese living, working, and studying in Ukraine, mostly in big cities of Kharkiv (about 3,000 people), Odesa (3,000), Kyiv (800), and a few others in small cities like Kherson, Donetsk, and Lviv.

Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations Dang Hoang Giang, at the UN General Assembly’s Special Session on the armed conflicts in Ukraine held on February 28-March 2, shared that Vietnam understands losses caused to the people and nations involved.

“Vietnam understands firsthand that once broken out, wars and conflicts only cause enormous suffering to human beings, great consequences for many aspects of the life of nations directly involved as well as others.”

Giang noted that all international disputes should be resolved by peaceful means based on the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter that, including those of sovereignty, equality, respect for the political independence and territorial integrity of states, non-interference in internal affairs of states, and refraining from the threat.