Geneva, Switzerland – President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, marking the first high-level contact between the two nations.
The leaders formalized their new relationship by signing a Joint Communiqué with their respective foreign ministers, establishing diplomatic relations between Palau and Ukraine.
President Whipps emphasized the importance of learning from past conflicts and expressed Palau’s firm support for a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine. He stressed the need to maintain Ukraine’s territorial integrity and ensure justice for victims of the conflict.
President Zelenskyy welcomed Palau’s support and invited the island nation to participate in the “Environmental Security” aspect of Ukraine’s Peace Formula. He highlighted the environmental threats posed by the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The Ukrainian leader also called for global unity in supporting the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.