VBA: Checking if a file exists in FTP directory using XMLHTTP, always receiving response=0

Question

I'm currently working on a VBA project where I need to check if a file exists in an FTP directory using XMLHTTP. However, I'm facing an issue as I always receive a response value of 0.

    Dim ftpServer As String
    Dim ftpUsername As String
    Dim ftpPassword As String
    Dim filePath As String
    Dim ftpURL As String
    Dim httpRequest As Object
    Dim ftpResponse As String
    
    ' FTP server details
    ftpServer = "37.***.144.232"
    ftpUsername = "***usr***"
    ftpPassword = "*****"
    
    ' File path and name on the FTP server
    filePath = "/a.jpg"
    
    ' Construct the FTP URL
    ftpURL = "ftp://" & ftpServer & filePath
    MsgBox ftpURL
    
    ' Create HTTP request object
    Set httpRequest = CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP")
   
    
    ' Open FTP URL using basic authentication
    httpRequest.Open "GET", ftpURL, False, ftpUsername, ftpPassword

    
    ' Send the request
    httpRequest.Send
    
    ' Get the FTP response status
    ftpResponse = httpRequest.Status
    
    ' Check the response
    If ftpResponse = "200" Then
        ' Connection to the server successful
        MsgBox "Connected to server successfully!"
        
        ' Check if file exists
        If Len(httpRequest.responseText) > 0 Then
            ' File exists
            MsgBox "File exists!"
        Else
            ' File doesn't exist
            MsgBox "File does not exist!"
        End If
    ElseIf ftpResponse = "404" Then
        ' File doesn't exist
        MsgBox "File does not exist!"
    Else
        ' Other response status or error occurred
        MsgBox "An error occurred. Response status: " & ftpResponse
    End If

I have already verified that the FTP directory path and the file name are correct. I suspect there might be an issue with my implementation of the XMLHTTP request.

I would appreciate any assistance in identifying the problem and finding a solution. Additionally, if there is an alternative approach or a better method to achieve this file existence check in VBA, please let me know.