Leaders of six African countries suggest, that Ukraine start negotiations with Russia and continue them until the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. South African presidential spokesman Vincent Magvenya said this at a briefing.
“First, it is a cessation of hostilities. Secondly, it is the basis for a lasting peace,” Magvenya said.
This is part of Africa’s so-called “peace plan” to end the war in Ukraine.
In addition to South Africa, Senegal, Uganda and Egypt have also supported the plan. Earlier, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, that he had already told the UN secretary-general about it and held preliminary talks on the strategy with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. According to him, both Vladimir Zelensky and Vladimir Putin have expressed their willingness to accept the mission of African leaders to peacefully settle the war.
However, the details of this plan have not yet been disclosed. According to the South African president, this strategy is supported “cautiously” by Western countries, including the UK and the US.
At the same time, the Ukrainian side has already essentially rejected the latest proposals of African leaders.
“My president has made it very clear – no negotiations between Ukraine and Russia unless the Russians leave our territory within its internationally recognised borders,” said Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa, Lubov Abravitova.
But she also added, that African delegates will be received in Kiev and talked to.
An African delegation is scheduled to visit Ukraine in June.
The presidential office earlier welcomed the intention of African leaders to come to Ukraine to discuss their “peace initiative”. According to the Ukrainian presidential press secretary, Serhiy Nikyforov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to receive the distinguished guests, listen to their proposals, talk about the Ukrainian peace formula and invite them to join its implementation.
And the Russian side has abstracted from African peace proposals. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently said, that Moscow had not yet seen an African “peace plan” on Ukraine.
