Indonesian President Joko Widodo Calls for Cease-fire in Ukraine, Talks With Russia Over Sanctions.

Instead of economic sanctions, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and continued dialogue between Moscow and the West to resolve the crisis.

“It is critical for all countries to push for a reduction in tensions, de-escalation, and increased negotiation.”

“This is vital information. Negotiation, then a cease-fire, and then the war is over. I believe that any difficult problem can be solved if we are willing to communicate with one another and listen to one another,” Widodo said.

He said this in an interview with Nikkei Asia, a Japanese news agency, published on Wednesday.

Widodo stated that Western economic sanctions against Russia were not the best solution to the problem because “people and civilians” would be the victims.

Read also: Why sack of Umahi, deputy cannot stand…..

Indonesia’s reluctance to criticize Russia’s actions in Ukraine, according to the president, stems from the country’s non-alignment policy, and both “Ukraine and Russia are friends of Indonesia.”

On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine in response to the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics’ requests for assistance in combating Ukrainian troops’ aggression.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the special operation is only targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure, and civilians are not in danger. (Xinhua/NAN)