The government is taking the required measures to mitigate the economic hurdles surfacing due to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

This was revealed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during a televised address to the public on Sunday evening.

As such, the President assured the public that every necessary measure to mitigate the negative impacts on the economy of Maldives due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, will be taken.

Stressing that a drawn-out crisis in Ukraine will have detrimental effects on the economy of Maldives, the president stated that both Ukraine and Russia are top contributors to the Maldives’ tourist arrivals.

President Solih went on to note that the possible impact on the tourism sector of Maldives has been analyzed by the Ministry of Finance.

With this being said, he noted that the government is currently implementing measures to mitigate and overcome it, some of which include efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) to explore new tourism markets.

Highlighting that his foreign policy is based on the principles of international law that recognizes all states' sovereign equality, the President stated that Maldives, as a small island state, stands firm on this principle.

He went on to urge the governments of Russia and Ukraine to give priority to diplomacy in managing and resolving the crisis.

During his address, the President reiterated calls for dialogue to end the suffering of the Ukrainian people and expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

The spotlight was also shed on efforts by the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education to assist Maldivian students living in proximity to the conflict zone.

He further revealed that the government is working to extend a helping hand to students rescued from Ukraine to seek possible ways to resume their education.