Dec 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to Argentina on Saturday to attend the inauguration of Argentina's new Javier Milley, his first visit to Latin America.
Zelenskyy announced on the Telegram messaging app that the visit will focus on Ukraine's long-standing efforts to rally support from countries in the South during Ukraine's 21-month-long war with Russia.
Ukraine** said he met with the Prime Minister of the West African country of Cape Verde, Ulises Correa Silva, on his way to Argentina and thanked him for "condemning Russia's aggression" and supporting Ukraine's initiative.
Zelenskyy wants a "global peace summit" and has pushed for a peace plan based on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and the recognition of borders after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Kyiv has been trying to build relations with the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America**, but has found that its support for Israel is at odds with the position of some of them.
Ukraine** speculated this week that Milley's inauguration could serve as a backdrop for a meeting between Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to resolve differences over Ukraine's application for EU membership.
Next week's EU summit will decide whether to start negotiations with Ukraine and neighboring Moldova, a former Soviet republic, on membership as recommended by the European Commission.
A decision must be made unanimously, and Orban has repeatedly expressed his opposition to starting negotiations now.
Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andrei Yermak, said this week that he was trying to arrange a suitable time for his meeting with Orban.
Like the new Argentine**, Orban is an advocate of right-wing views. On Saturday, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had met Milei. Orban praised the electoral success of the right "not only in Europe, but all over the world."