Cambodia will send deminers to train Ukrainians in the removal of UXOs left by Russian forces during the ongoing conflict.
During a phone call on Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Hun Sen conveyed this to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Mr Hun Sen promised to work with the Japanese government to obtain equipment for Cambodian deminers to use during training while accepting an invitation from Zelenskyy to visit Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian embassy in Vietnam, nearly 261,000 explosive objects have been defused so far.
The Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh announced yesterday that made-in-Japan mine detectors will be introduced to Ukraine, while Cambodia will dispatch demining engineers.
“I would like to inform you that Cambodia is ready to send demining forces to help train Ukraine’s deminers at an appropriate time in Poland, with the support and cooperation of Japan,” Mr Hun Sen is heard telling Zelenskyy in a video clip of their phone conversation. “It was a recent decision.”
He also thanked Ukraine for selling weapons and ammunition to Cambodia in 2010 and 2011.
Cambodia is “ready to dispatch deminers to help train Ukraine’s deminers at an appropriate time,” according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the collaboration with Japan.
“President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude and welcomed Cambodia’s good gesture to assist Ukraine in demining,” the statement said, adding that Zelenskyy also invited Mr Hun Sen to pay an official visit to Ukraine at a suitable time, which Mr Hun Sen accepted.
During the phone call, Zelenskyy expressed satisfaction and heartfelt gratitude for the three ASEAN Statements in support of Ukraine and Cambodia’s efforts on Ukraine’s application for accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, has agreed to visit Cambodia to sign the Instrument of Accession to the TAC and to take part in some events of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits, which will be held next week in Phnom Penh under the theme “Addressing Challenges Together.”
