Indonesian President Joko Widodo has called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and a continued dialogue between Moscow.

“It is important for all countries to push for the tension reduction, de-escalation – intensify negotiation. This is very important,” Mr Widodo said during an interview with Japanese news agency Nikkei Asia, published on Wednesday. “Negotiation, ceasefire, then stop the war. I believe any difficult problem can be solved if we are willing to talk to each other listen to each other.” 

Mr Widodo noted that the West’s economic sanctions against Russia were not the best solution to resolve the problem as “people and civilians will be the victims.”

The president commented on Indonesia’s reluctance to criticise Russia’s actions in Ukraine by saying that it stems from the country’s policy of non-alignment and adding that both “Ukraine and Russia are friends of Indonesia.”

On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine, drawing global condemnation.

(Xinhua/NAN)