Ukraine Seeks Opportunities, Not Oil, in Persian Gulf

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko’s tour of the Persian Gulf states resulted in signing agreements on attracting and reciprocal protection of investment with Kuwait and trade, economic, and technical cooperation with Qatar, reports Interfax-Ukraine. Mr. Zlenko also declared that this year Ukraine will open an embassy in Kuwait. As he put it, Ukraine is interested in cooperating with Kuwait in the petrochemical and oil/gas sectors as well as attracting Kuwaiti capital into the consortium that will operate the Odesa-Brody oil pipeline. In turn, Ukraine can offer Kuwait the latest developments in the military-industrial complex, specialists in former Soviet military hardware, and metallurgical products. Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Muhammed Al-Sabakh underscored his country’s special interest in cooperating with Ukraine in the oil and gas sector. Mr. Zlenko also announced the interest of Qatar in Ukrainian-made aircraft, in part, transport planes of the An family, reports Interfax-Ukraine.