Relationship dossier
Malaysia
Ukraine
Relationship assessment
Modest bilateral cooperation, including MH17 investigation-related engagement and Malaysian support for a UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion
Malaysia toward Ukraine
+15Malaysia supported the 2022 UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Malaysian authorities also took part in efforts to investigate the 2014 destruction of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a case involving the loss of many Malaysian lives.
Ukraine toward Malaysia
+10Ukrainian authorities cooperated with the international investigation into the 2014 destruction of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which involved Malaysian investigators and victims. The extent of other direct Ukrainian government cooperation with Malaysia is unclear.
Overall relationship
+15The relationship includes practical engagement through the MH17 investigation and Malaysian support for a major UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These are meaningful areas of cooperation, but the known bilateral relationship does not indicate a close or extensive partnership.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Malaysia and Ukraine have maintained diplomatic and economic relations, with cooperation on matters including the investigation of the 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 disaster. Malaysia also supported a 2022 United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The known record supports modest cooperation, though the breadth and continuity of bilateral government collaboration are unclear.
Key developments
Malaysia supported the UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was destroyed over eastern Ukraine, prompting an international investigation involving Malaysian investigators and Ukrainian authorities.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral economic and other cooperation agreements are unclear.
- The extent of recent direct government cooperation between Malaysia and Ukraine is unclear.