Mali had announced on Sunday that it was cutting relations with Ukraine following comments from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency about the fighting in northern Mali in late July.
Tuareg rebels claimed to have killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers during the clashes, marking one of Wagner’s heaviest defeats since it began aiding Mali’s military two years ago against insurgent groups.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry, in a statement, said, “It is unfortunate that … Mali chose to cut off … relations … without thoroughly investigating the facts and circumstances of the incident … and without offering any proof of Ukraine’s involvement in the event.”
Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence, stated in a televised address after the fighting that Malian rebels had received the “necessary” information to execute the attack.
The Ukrainian declaration, aimed at countering Moscow’s troops over 29 months after Russia’s full-scale invasion, stopped short of explicitly ascertaining Kyiv’s involvement in the incident.
Mali responded with “deep shock,” describing the remarks as an admission of involvement and condemning actions that “violated the sovereignty of Mali,” equating them to supporting international terrorism.
In response, Ukraine’s foreign ministry dismissed the accusations of supporting international terrorism and labeled Mali’s decision to sever ties as hostile.
The ministry stated that Ukraine strictly follows international law and respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations.
It also noted that Ukraine reserves the right to take any necessary political and diplomatic actions in retaliation.
As Ukraine seeks to garner global support and expand its influence in the Global South, the diplomatic dispute with Mali arises.
Oleksandr Merezhko, a senior Ukrainian lawmaker and head of the parliament’s foreign policy committee, foresaw that the break in relations would not significantly impact Ukraine or its ties with the Global South.
He told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that there would be no serious consequences since no substantial relations currently exist between Mali and Ukraine.