TWO Ukrainian government ministers left Kiev for Belgrade yesterday to see if grounds existed for a diplomatic solution to the war in Yugoslavia.
The Defence Minister, Mr Olexander Kuzmuk, and the Foreign Minister, Mr Borys Tarasyuk, were unsure that they would be able to land in Serbia due to the NATO raids. "We may seek alternative routes," said Mr Tarasyuk.
The President of Ukraine, Mr Leonid Kuchma, has condemned the NATO air strikes for being launched without UN approval. But unlike neighbouring Russia, he has maintained relations with the alliance and offered his country's help to mediate in the conflict.
Mr Volodymyr Ohryzko, head of the foreign policy department in Kuchma's administration, said that Ukraine had been asked to act as an intermediary by President Clinton and the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Jean Chretien.
Mr Tarasyuk claimed that last night he had had contacts with his Serb and Russian counterparts, as well as with the US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright. He declined to elaborate.
President Kuchma stressed that his Slav state of 50 million people favoured a peaceful solution in Kosovo. "Air strikes will lead to nothing good - this is my deep conviction. It is necessary to sit down as soon as possible at a negotiating table and resolve this problem."