Putin wants stronger ties with African nations; SA’s Ramaphosa tells Putin “War in Ukraine must stop”
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with seven African leaders in St. Petersburg on Saturday who embarked on the visit as part of a peace-seeking delegation and laid out the 10 points of the African peace initiative that is seeking agreement on a series of “confidence-building measures.”
Putin told them that he welcomes the “balanced stance” of African nations on the Ukraine crisis. He also said the situation shouldn’t cause African countries to suffer.
“We welcome the balanced approach of African friends to the Ukraine crisis,” Putin told the visiting leaders. “We’re open to constructive dialogue with all those who want peace based on the principles of respect for each other’s interests, as well as justice.”
The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, the delegation “came with a very clear message: that this war has to be ended”.
“This war has to have an end… It must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means,” said Ramaphosa in St Petersburg on Saturday at the 18th-century Konstantinovsky Palace.
Putin interrupted opening remarks by African leaders seeking to mediate in the Ukraine conflict to deliver a list of reasons why he believed many of their proposals were misguided.
He reiterated his position that Ukraine and the West had started the conflict long before Russia sent its armed forces over the border in February last year. He said Russia had never refused talks with the Ukrainian side, which had been blocked by Kyiv.
Recall earlier this month, the Russian president said his country is considering withdrawing from a grain export deal reached with Ukraine. He also said Russia might deliver grain free of charge to African nations.
The full list of deligates are Cyril Ramaphosa, South African president, leaders from Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Zambia, Uganda and Comoros.
The delegation had met earlier on Friday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
