South Africa's Ramaphosa reveals 10-point peace initiative on Ukraine
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The South African President says the war in Ukraine is having a negative impact on the African continent and on many other countries around the world.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with a delegation of African leaders and senior officials in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 17, 2023 (AP)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is in Russia as part of a peace-seeking delegation, told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday that the war in Ukraine had to stop.
"This war has to have an end... It must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means," Ramaphosa stressed.
The South African leader affirmed that his delegation, consisting of seven African leaders, "came with a very clear message: that this war has to be ended."
"This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed on many other countries around the world," Ramaphosa indicated ahead of formal talks with Putin.
The delegation held on Friday talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev.
On his part, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently heads the African Union, told the Russian President, "We have come to listen to you and through you to hear the voice of the Russian people."
"We wanted to encourage you to enter into negotiations with Ukraine," he said.
Read more: Putin on West attempts to lower Russia's nuclear arsenal: 'S**** them'
South Africa's Ramaphosa reveals 10-Point peace initiative on Ukraine
Ramaphosa specified that the African peace initiative to resolve the conflict in Ukraine includes 10 points.
"We are looking for peace. We would like to try to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine in this conflict," the South African President said at a meeting with Putin and African delegates on the Ukrainian peace initiative in St. Petersburg.
Ramaphosa had previously stated that the initiative's main points are:
- Achieving peace through negotiations and diplomatic means
- Peace negotiations to begin the soonest
- De-escalation of the conflict on both sides
- Ensuring the sovereignty of states and peoples in accordance with the UN Charter
- Providing security guarantees for all sides
- Securing the movement of grain and fertilizer exports from both sides
- Providing humanitarian support for victims
- Settling the issue of the exchange of prisoners of war (POW) and the return of children
- Having post-war reconstruction and assistance to victims
- Providing closer interaction with African countries
Earlier on Saturday, Putin personally received and greeted the African delegates at the Konstantinovsky Palace to discuss the joint African peace initiative on Ukraine.
Read more: EU to refuse Africa peace initiative if it involves 'conflict freeze'
Compliance with UN Charter necessary for Russia-Ukraine talks: Senegalese leader
In the same context, Senegalese President Macky Sall pointed out that compliance with the UN Charter is a condition for a possible Russia-Ukraine dialogue, expressing confidence that Russia, as a UN founding country, is committed to its obligations.
"The conditions [for the dialogue] have been named. One of them is compliance with the UN Charter. I am sure that Russia, which is a founding country of this organization and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is committed to the Charter," Sall said at a meeting with Putin and other African delegates on the Ukrainian peace initiative in St. Petersburg.
The Senegalese leader noted the importance of maintaining humanitarian corridors and strengthening efforts in this field.
