'We must do everything for Ukraine to win': Tashkent continues support for Kyiv

TASHKENT -- Uzbekistan is continuing to support Ukraine more than a year since the start of the Kremlin's unprovoked invasion.

Since the beginning of the war, about 5,000 Ukrainians have fled to Uzbekistan. Community groups and local business leaders helped many find jobs and housing.

Uzbekistan has also provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

In April 2022, the country shipped more than 34 tonnes of medicine, individual first aid kits and food to Ukraine. In June, it sent more than 19 tonnes of medicine worth more than $1 million.

"We appreciate that Uzbekistan reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity," Ukrainian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Mykola Doroshenko said in an interview with Gazeta.uz on February 23.

"This important position is the foundation for a return to peace," Doroshenko said.

Embassy employees have worked in extreme conditions to promptly convey information to the Uzbeks, draft Ukrainian requests for assistance from Uzbekistan and ensure that Uzbekistan not only maintains its neutrality but uses its influence internationally to promote a peaceful settlement of the conflict, he said.

Doroshenko said he hopes Ukraine's requests will find a positive response and that Uzbekistan will not only continue to help but will expand the range of incoming goods that Ukraine needs so urgently today.

Economic co-operation

The two countries have also continued their economic co-operation.

Ukrainian exports to Uzbekistan include cooking oil; sugar; and equipment for producing beverages and processing fruits, vegetables and milk, as well as small mobile food production facilities.

While these exports have been blocked by Russia, the two countries are searching for new ways to make shipments through Kazakhstan or the Caspian Sea.

In 2021, Ukrainian-Uzbek trade grew from $439 million to $704 million. Initially, it was expected to reach $1 billion in 2022.

An Uzbek-Ukrainian business council was established and met for the first time in 2021.

But with the outbreak of the war, trade between the two countries in 2022 fell to $306 million.

"Even amid war and economic difficulties, I implore Uzbek businesses to be active and help implement the plan to restore Ukraine that was presented in July 2022 at the conference in Lugano, Switzerland," said Doroshenko during his interview, referring to the multi-national Ukraine Recovery Conference.

Co-operation could be expanded even more, say analysts.

If Uzbekistan's leaders have the will, Ukraine and Uzbekistan can co-operate economically and keep trading even in the face of a Russian blockade, Pulat Akhunov, an Uzbek politician living in Sweden, told Caravanserai.

One can find ways to bypass the Russian blockade, he said.

"Nothing prevents co-operation with Ukraine," said Adil Turdukulov, Bishkek-based journalist and analyst.

"It is even welcome. Conversely, co-operation with Russia is becoming toxic and may bring great harm."

"Above all, this refers to eluding sanctions," he said, referring to Russian attempts to enlist other countries into helping Russia thwart Western sanctions imposed on it for invading Ukraine.

"Nothing is stopping Uzbekistan from trading with Ukraine and helping to rebuild destroyed cities. I'm convinced there will be a second Marshall Plan and that Uzbekistan can play first fiddle in it," he said.

Breaking free of Russia

Ukraine's struggle against Russia has its own significance for citizens of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, according to observers.

Residents of Central Asia now understand and sense that the war in Ukraine concerns their own sovereignty and independence, Turdukulov told Caravanserai.

"All foreign military bases should be withdrawn from Kyrgyzstan, above all, Russian bases," he said.

"Next, Russia's federal TV channels should be banned. And [Kyrgyzstan] should withdraw from organisations that undermine our sovereignty: the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organisation] and EEU [Eurasian Economic Union or EAEU]," he said.

Pro-Russian politicians acted freely in Ukraine before the war, openly undermining the country's sovereignty, he noted. And like in Central Asia, Russian television operators broadcast freely, promoting annexation.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted Central Asian states to strengthen security and economic co-operation.

"Despite all the present disagreements, the war in Ukraine has forced [Central Asian nations] to make important co-ordinated foreign policy gestures and statements," Turdukulov added.

He pointed to a United Nations vote on the eve of the first anniversary of Russia's invasion, in favour of a resolution calling for an end to the war and demanding that Russia leave Ukrainian territory.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan abstained in the vote. Turkmenistan was absent.

The West will defeat Russia, which in turn will lead to freedom in Central Asia, Akhunov the Uzbek politician said, referring to the bloc's multiple forms of support for Ukraine.

"I hope our ... leaders will realise that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's chauvinistic Russia sees them as their vassals and subordinates. We who want freedom and democracy for our peoples must now know that only the West is our ally. And we must do everything for Ukraine to win," he said.