South Africa’s presidency announced on Monday that South African officials would travel to both countries to sell the idea of starting peace talks with Russia while Russian troops remain on Ukrainian territory. Six African leaders proposed the idea.
Before negotiations can begin, Ukraine has demanded that Russian troops leave its territory, while Russia has insisted that Ukraine first recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Russian military invaded Ukraine in full force in February 2022.
The first is the cessation of fighting. “The second is a framework for lasting peace,” South African Presidency Spokesman Vincent Magwenya said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the initiative on May 16. Senegal’s President Macky Sall is leading the effort, despite the fact that his country abstained from the United Nations vote condemning Russia in February this year.
Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema voted in favor of the resolution, while the Congo’s Denis Sassou Nguesso and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni did not.
The peace mission is scheduled to visit both Moscow and Kiyv in early June.
Liubov Abravitova, Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa, said in a text message that her country’s president had made it clear that “there will be” no talks between Ukraine and Russia unless Russians leave Ukrainian territory and return it to its internationally recognized borders.
She went on to say, “We will receive all delegates and speak to them.” A representative from Russia’s embassy did not immediately respond when asked for comment.
The London-based Brazzaville Foundation, the brainchild of a wealthy French commodities trader, organized the peace mission in part “to secure agreements to release critical grain cargos and fertilisers for shipment to Africa,” according to a statement released on May 16.
The most vulnerable people in Africa have been particularly hard hit by the conflict’s spikes in food and fuel prices.
A State Department spokesperson stated that the US “welcomes any successful effort to convince (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to end his war of territorial aggression” in response to the African plan.
