We (Indonesia) hope that there will be no more cities in Ukraine ruined by the war.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Maryinsky Palace, Kyiv, Ukraine, around 3 p.m. local time (UTC+3) on Wednesday afternoon.

According to a statement received from the press bureau of the Presidential Secretariat here on Wednesday evening, the two state leaders greeted each other at the palace door and then headed inside for a group photo session, introduction of the delegation, and a tete-a-tete meeting.

During the visit, Widodo is expected to talk to Zelenskyy about a peaceful solution to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The two leaders posted some photos and videos of their meeting on their respective social media accounts.

On his Instagram account @jokowi, the Indonesian President posted two pictures that were taken while the two leaders greeted each other and held a tete-a-tete meeting.

Related news: Jokowi, Zelenskyy share their meeting on social media

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy posted two videos showing Widodo’s arrival and their joint press conference on his Instagram account @zelenskiy_official.

Prior to meeting Zelenskyy, the Indonesian President visited Irpin city, which is located about 30 kilometers (km) to the west of Kyiv, to observe buildings damaged in the conflict.

“We (Indonesia) hope that there will be no more cities in Ukraine ruined by the war," he remarked.

He also said that he was saddened by the damage caused to residential areas and public infrastructures by the war.

Widodo and his entourage, which included Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, also visited the Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center of Endocrine Surgery, Transplantation of Endocrine Organs and Tissues in Kyiv, Ukraine.

First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo symbolically handed over medicine assistance to the hospital during the visit.

After the meeting with Zelenskyy, President Widodo was scheduled to return to Poland on an extraordinary train provided by the Ukrainian government. He will leave for Russia from Poland to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and seek a peaceful dialogue to end the conflict.

Related news: Iriana's presence during president's Ukraine visit symbolic of peace
Related news: President, First Lady arrive in Kyiv

Translator: Rangga Jingga, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022