IRIA News

A high-level delegation of African leaders and diplomats met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin, insisting Moscow and Kyiv start negotiations. The delegation was led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

A delegation consisting of leaders and diplomats from several African countries started their peace mission in Kyiv on June 16, 2023. The group included four presidents — South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegal’s Macky Sall, Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, and Comoros’ Azali Assoumani. Presidents of Egypt, Uganda, and Congo also agreed to join the delegation at the time of its announcement, however, pulled out at the last minute and sent their representatives instead.

The delegation met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and voiced concerns about their continent which has suffered from the aftereffects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly in the form of rising grain prices. Leader of the delegation and President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa insisted to his Ukrainian counterpart that “there should be peace through negotiations.”

[PHOTOS]: The African Heads of State and Government representing the African Leaders Peace Mission to #Ukraine and #Russia welcomed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv,

The leaders presented elements that will lead the warring parties on a… pic.twitter.com/1r9HRBEU0c

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) June 16, 2023

The Ukrainian President rejected the possibility of talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Speaking at the joint press conference with African delegates, Zelenskyy said that a “meeting that to allow any negotiations with Russia, now that the occupier is on our land, is to freeze the war, to freeze pain and suffering.” He said that peace negotiations with Moscow are only possible if Russia withdraws from occupied Ukrainian territories.

While in Ukraine, the African delegation also visited Bucha, a town on the outskirts of Kyiv that has become synonymous with alleged war crimes carried out by Moscow. Concluding the trip to Ukraine, Ramaphosa said that “In our view, it is important to listen very carefully to what both countries have to say, and tomorrow we are now going to listen to President Putin.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “I do believe that Ukrainians feel that they must fight and not give up. The road to peace is very hard.” Ramaphosa further added that “We [African leaders] even told President Zelenskyy that we not only recognize their [Ukrainians’] viewpoint, but we also respect how they feel about the war that’s going on. But we also said there is a need to bring this conflict to an end sooner rather than later.”

The Ukrainian president asked African leaders to urge the Russian president to free political prisoners from Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Zelenskyy said, “Would you please ask Russia to liberate the political prisoners? Maybe this will be an important result of your mission, of your ‘road map’.”

The delegation arrived in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on June 17, 2023, for the second leg of their peace mission. The delegation met with Russian President Vladimir Putin a day after conducting talks with his Ukrainian counterpart.

During his meeting with the African leaders and diplomats at the Konstantinovsky Palace, Putin said that Moscow was “open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want peace based on the principles of justice and consideration of the legitimate interests of the parties.”

Senegalese President Macky Sall said that Africa wanted peace between Russia and Ukraine and was convinced that dialogue would make it possible. The delegation members and especially South African President Ramaphosa repeatedly quoted Nelson Mandela during both meetings.

“This war must be settled, through negotiation and through dialogue…”

HE President @CyrilRamaphosa#AfricanPeaceMission
Marble Hall, Konstantinovsky Palace
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
17 June 2023 pic.twitter.com/P3q8ywtAQC

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) June 17, 2023

African nations have been affected directly by the ongoing war due to the increasing prices of grains, oils, and fertilizers. Where several African countries have kept a neutral stance on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The South African leadership also claims to be a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict; however, Western powers have been keeping a close eye on the African nation due to its good relations with Russia.

Earlier in May 2023, United States Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety had claimed that a Russian ship collected weapons from a naval base in Cape Town late last year. However, the U.S. ambassador later apologized to the government and the people of South Africa for his comments.