PHNOM PENH: ASEAN Summit Spokesperson, Kung Phoak, has said that ASEAN wants to see peace and stability in Ukraine as the war has now continued for nearly nine months and has caused many negative effects across the whole world, including food, energy, and security crises.

Responding to questions from reporters at a press conference on Thursday evening, 10 November, Spokesperson Kung Phoak stressed the importance of peace and stability as the foundation for the ASEAN region and said that the association also wants to see peace and stability reestablished in Ukraine as well.

He added that ASEAN is also ready to facilitate, if the relevant parties request the association to do so, especially while Cambodia is still the Chair.

The Spokesperson also noted that the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia could also be a good opportunity for a bilateral meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Ukraine, adding that Cambodia was ready to mediate if requested.

It should be noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday evening, 8 November, to sign Ukraine on to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) on Thursday morning, 10 November. This is an official step for Ukraine to become an external partner of ASEAN.