Moscow’s traditional ally, Algeria, said it would reopen “as soon as possible”. She described her relations with Ukraine as “normal”.
Algeria, a traditional Moscow ally, has decided to reopen its embassy in Kiev, which had been closed since Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, the Algerian foreign ministry said on Sunday.
“This decision comes within the framework of safeguarding the interests of the Algerian state in this country as well as the national community,” the ministry said in a statement. The reopening of the embassy, led by a chargé d’affaires, will be “as soon as possible,” the same source added.
According to Algerian diplomacy, the activities of its embassy in Kyiv have been “frozen due to the deterioration in security conditions”.
Longstanding privileged Algerian-Russian relations
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced Algiers’ decision to reopen his representation in Kiev during a televised meeting with the local press on Friday evening. Abdelmadjid Tebboune specified that Algerian-Russian relations are “known to everyone” and described relations with Ukraine as “normal”.
Algiers and Moscow have long-standing privileged relations. In 2021, trade between the two countries reached $3 billion. Algiers and Mocou also cooperate in the military sphere and within the framework of OPEC+, which brings together 23 oil-producing countries, and the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries (GECF).