Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

S. African President announces peace talks initiative for Ukraine

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 May 2023 17:33
4 Min Read

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says Russia and Ukraine have agreed to receive an African mission that aims to initiate peace talk discussions between the two countries.

  • x
  • South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at a joint press briefing with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Cape Town, South Africa, 16 May 2023. (Reuters)
    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at a joint press briefing with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Cape Town, South Africa, 16 May 2023. (Reuters)

The Russian and Ukrainian Presidents have agreed to meet with a delegation of African leaders to discuss a possible peace deal to the Ukrainian crisis, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.

The South African President did not reveal any further details regarding the peace plan, however, the two sides are miles apart in terms of their demands for a peace deal, as Ukraine has demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from what it considers its territory.

"My discussions with the two leaders demonstrated that they are both ready to receive the African leaders and to have a discussion on how this conflict can be brought to an end," Ramaphosa told reporters in a joint press briefing held alongside the Singaporean Prime Minister in Cape Town.

"Whether that will succeed or not is going to depend on the discussions that will be held," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have both agreed to receive the African delegation in Moscow and Kiev respectively, according to the statement. While the leaders of Senegal, Uganda, Egypt, the Republic of Congo, and Zambia have joined in on the African mission.

The South African President said that the US and the UK expressed "cautious" support for the initiative, as he added that the UN Secretary-General was also informed about the plan.

Last week, South African Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, revealed that the country has the capacity to act as a mediator between the two sides at the first opportunity presented. It seems now that the opportunity has actualized. 

Related News

Israeli actions in Gaza fuel Middle East escalation, Russia says

Russian MoD reports dozens of Ukrainian drones downed overnight

Pandor highlighted South Africa's active relations with both Presidents and that the country is attentively monitoring the conflict. 

She further said that Western-led sanctions imposed on Moscow had "secondary" effects on non-belligerent countries which undermines their needs, causing them to "suffer."

Previously, the US ambassador to Cape Town, Reuben Brigety, accused South Africa of supplying Russia with munitions in a covert naval operation. According to the Financial Times, the accusations further deepened the foreign policy crisis for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, as the alleged act depicted a clear tilt toward the Kremlin in the context of the most recent events.

However, the US' public accusations resulted in an angry rebuke from the president, who has played a significant role in establishing South Africa's neutral position on the war in Ukraine, despite US efforts to turn the nation into a key factor to counter its declining hegemony in Africa.

After the US ambassador voiced that Washington considered itself entitled to making claims about what is considered "fundamentally unacceptable" regarding decisions made by another sovereign nation, the South African president expressed that it was "disappointing" that Brigety had “adopted a counterproductive public posture.”

In a statement, the President said that the public allegations made by Brigety "undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership that characterized the recent engagements between US government officials and a South African official delegation led by National Security Special Advisor to the President, Dr Sydney Mufumadi."

South Africa's International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor said, that her country will not cut ties with Russia as per the wishes of third parties or countries. 

"There are some who wish for us not to have relations with Russia and we made it clear that Russia is a friend [we hope to have] for many years. We cannot become enemies with many countries around the world at the demand of others," Pandor said on March 30, while hoping that the two countries remain friends for many years to come. 

  • Moscow
  • Ukraine crisis
  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • Kiev
  • Ukraine
  • Cyril Ramaphosa
  • Cape Town
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS