Ukraine is fulfilling its promise to strengthen its presence in African countries: it is expanding its diplomatic representation, still intends to hold the Ukraine-Africa summit and is ready to cooperate in many areas - from food supplies to technology exchange and security assistance, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"We have made a promise that we will strengthen our presence in African countries. That's what happened in Africa. I have signed an order to open 10 additional embassies in the countries of the African continent: seven have already been opened, three will be opened in the near future," he said at the 3rd International Conference on Food Security Grain from Ukraine in Kyiv on Saturday.

Zelenskyy stressed that this policy focuses on each country, "a separate emphasis", and Kyiv is interested in establishing bilateral relations with various African countries who show interest in this.

According to him, Ukraine will remain a guarantor of food security, despite any Russian blockages and attacks.

"Further, Ukraine wants to increase its presence not only politically. The task has been set in parallel with the opening of embassies to open new grain houses – the so–called storage hubs for various food products," the president added.

He pointed out that in addition to supplying food directly, there is a desire to share technologies, increase processing and increase mutual trade turnover.

Zelenskyy recalled that the African continent was represented by 14-15 leaders at the World Summit in Burgenstock, Switzerland, and they all joined the joint communique.

Answering a question from a Kenyan journalist, the President of Ukraine noted very good personal relations with Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto and expressed confidence in holding another bilateral meeting.

"In general, apart from the meeting with the Kenyan leader, I really asked that both our team and the African teams of other leaders meet Ukraine halfway, and we were able to organize a strong Ukraine-Africa summit. And I really wanted us to intensify our economic relations and security due to the increased presence of Russia ... in many parts of the African continent," Zelenskyy said.

According to him, the Russian Federation is trying to put pressure on Africa by such methods as Wagnerian mercenaries in order to put pressure on Europe later.

As reported, Ukraine after the full-scale invasion of Russia in 2022 opened diplomatic missions in Botswana, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mozambique and Rwanda.