Ukraine has set up a dedicated department within its Foreign Ministry to manage relations with Central Asia, signaling a major push to revitalize cooperation across the region. This strategic shift was announced by Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Oleksandr Mishchenko, following his visit to Tashkent on Thursday.

“I have come to Uzbekistan, having just visited Kazakhstan, following the Foreign Ministry’s decision to significantly intensify our engagement with Central Asian nations,” Mishchenko told reporters. He was accompanied by Viktor Maiko, Ukraine’s Envoy for Central Asia and current Ambassador to Kazakhstan.

In Tashkent, the Ukrainian delegation met with Uzbekistan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister, Bakhromjon Aloev, to discuss bilateral priorities and future cooperation.

“I expressed my gratitude to the leadership of the Foreign Ministry and the entire nation for their firm, principled support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Mishchenko noted. “For us, this is the fundamental issue that defines our bilateral relations with any country.” He added that both nations stand on the foundation of international law, describing their positions on this matter as “entirely aligned.”

This visit marks the first high-level political consultation in Tashkent since 2021. Mishchenko attributed the current diplomatic surge to a fundamental change in Kyiv’s regional strategy. He emphasized that Ukraine now views Central Asia as a unified entity and is prioritizing coordinated diplomacy across all five nations.

“We seek to integrate our efforts with the regional projects you are already developing within Central Asia,” Mishchenko said. Kyiv is modeling its approach after the existing "C5+1" platforms used by other global powers. “There are formats such as Central Asia–USA, Central Asia–EU, and Central Asia–Azerbaijan. As a strategic partner to all these international actors, we want to join that framework.”

This new direction includes a complete review of staffing policies at Ukrainian diplomatic missions in the region. Addressing the current vacancy of the Ukrainian Ambassadorship in Uzbekistan, Mishchenko explained: “We take our relationship with Uzbekistan so seriously that we cannot simply appoint anyone. There is a rigorous selection process and high competition. The Minister and the President are currently finalizing this to ensure all our embassies are fully staffed.”

The Deputy Minister concluded by noting that the timing is ideal for expansion, as Uzbekistan undergoes a period of rapid reform and dynamic growth. He expressed confidence that these renewed contacts will elevate the Ukraine-Uzbekistan partnership to a new level.