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Cyril Ramaphosa said that the visit of the African leaders to Russia and Ukraine was impactful. The mission included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Comoros, and Zambia, as well as top officials from Uganda, Egypt, and Congo-Brazzavill
Cyril Ramaphosa said that the visit of the African leaders to Russia and Ukraine was impactful. The mission included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Comoros, and Zambia, as well as top officials from Uganda, Egypt, and Congo-Brazzaville.
The African delegation met with President Volodymir Zelensky of Ukraine on June 16 and later with Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation on June 17. Ramaphosa explained ten objectives of the visit which included de-escalation, the recognition of countries’ sovereignty, security guarantees for all countries, unimpeded grain exports through the Black Sea, and sending prisoners of war and children back to their countries of origin.
The agreement both countries are willing to engage with African leaders would put Africa in the frame, Ramaphosa said. China has presented its own peace proposal at the end of February.
Putin had praised the delegation’s balanced approach and said he was open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want to implement peace based on the principles of justice and respect for the parties legitimate interests. Moscow has in the past repeated that any negotiations would need to take into account new territorial realities. Zelensky repeated his position that Ukraine must recover territories lost to Russia to achieve peace.
African countries have been divided over their response to the fighting. While some have voted for a UN resolution condemning the ‘invasion of Ukraine, others have remained neutral or voted with Moscow against such a resolution. Russia accuses the West of blocking its exports of fertilizers and threatens to pull out of a deal — due to expire on July 17 — that has allowed Ukrainian grain exports to resume through the Black Sea.
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In Washington, US President Joe Biden said that the United States would not make special arrangements for Ukraine to join the NATO military alliance. They’ve got to meet the same standards, he told reporters, thereby alluding that it would not be easy for Ukraine to enter the grouping. In the meanwhile, next week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will call on investors and businesses at a two-day summit in London to match Ukraine’s bravery on the battlefield with support to get the country back on its feet.
