Gambian leader Adama Barrow recently held his first conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky marking a renewal of diplomatic relations after a 20-year pause. 

Zelensky thanked Barrow for The Gambia’s participation in last month’s peace summit for Ukraine in Switzerland, reports the Kyiv Independent. 

They discussed future potential cooperation between Ukraine and Africa to restore peace and ensure food stability. 

Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s role as a key guarantor of food security for Africa and the world and expressed readiness to welcome back Gambian students and expand educational programmes. He also expressed his pleasure at resuming high-level contact with The Gambia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in December 2023 that one of Ukraine’s foreign policy priorities for 2024 is continuing to develop ties with African countries.