• Ukraine insisted that it respects international law and the sovereignty of other countries, and thus cannot interfere with their affairs.
• The ministry said Mali's decision to sever ties without providing proof of their involvement is regrettable.
Image: FILE
The Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected claims by the Mali Transitional Government that it played a role in last month's deadly fighting that saw several Malian soldiers and Wagner mercenaries killed.
Ukraine insisted that it respects international law and the sovereignty of other countries, and thus cannot interfere with their affairs.
"Ukraine unconditionally adheres to the norms of international law, the inviolability of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, and resolutely rejects the accusations of the Transitional Government of Mali of alleged 'Ukraine's support for international terrorism'," the ministry said.
This came after Mali announced that it had cut diplomatic relations with Ukraine.
According to Mali, a military official suggested Kyiv had played a role in deadly fighting near the Algerian border last month.
Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, said last week that the rebels had been given the "necessary information" to conduct the attacks.
Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga said his government was shocked to hear the claim and accused Ukraine of violating Mali's sovereignty.
Yusov's comments, Abdoulaye said admitted Ukraine's involvement in a cowardly, treacherous and barbaric attack by armed terrorist groups.
Ukraine said that it is known in Africa as an important contributor to ensuring regional security including being part of the UN Missions in Mali between 2019 -2022.
The ministry said Mali's decision to sever ties without providing proof of their involvement is regrettable.
"Regrettably, the Transitional Government of the Republic of Mali decided to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine without conducting a thorough study of the facts and circumstances of the incident in the north of Mali, and without providing any evidence of Ukraine's involvement in the mentioned event," Ukraine said.
"Ukraine reserves the right to take all necessary political and diplomatic measures in response to unfriendly actions of the Transitional Government of the Republic of Mali."
Last week, Mali's army admitted it had suffered “significant” losses during several days of fighting earlier that erupted on July 25.
The clashes took place in the desert near Tinzaouaten, a northeastern town on the border with Algeria.
Wagner has acknowledged that one of its commanders was killed and a Russian helicopter was downed in "fierce fighting", saying they had been attacked by around 1,000 fighters.