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Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky He ruled out the possibility of talks with Russia on Friday after a visiting delegation of African leaders urged the two countries to de-escalate.
The diplomatic team came to Kiev to express the concerns of the continent, which had suffered from the repercussions of the Russian invasion – in particular from the rise in grain prices – with the President of South Africa, Cyril. Ramaphosa Insisting that “there must be peace through negotiations”. z
but Zelensky She rejected this possibility during a joint press conference, telling reporters: “I said clearly many times in our meeting that allowing any negotiations with Russia now that the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war and freeze pain and suffering.”
Shortly after the arrival of the African leaders, sirens sound across the country as Russian missiles are detected, forcing the delegates to take shelter in the capital.
Zelensky said that the strike on Kiev during the delegation’s visit is proof of that put it in Either he did not control his army, or he was “irrational.”
Ramaphosa, however, took this barrage as evidence that both sides needed to stop fighting.
Quoting Nelson Mandela several times on the need for peace, Ramaphosa said, “It is precisely this kind of event that we saw today… that makes us call for de-escalation.”
Zelensky said in a statement that he called on the leaders to express their views on how to stop the “crimes committed by Russia”, and how to work towards achieving food security.
“But above all, we must restore the full force of the United Nations Charter, stop this brutal Russian aggression and liberate our land,” he added.
The African delegation had first gone to Bucha, a city outside the capital that has become synonymous with alleged war crimes committed by Moscow.
The group includes four presidents: Ramaphosa, Macky Sall of Senegalese, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Azali Assoumani of the Comoros, who currently heads the African Union.
The leaders of Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville pulled out of the visit at the last minute and sent representatives instead.
The talks came as Ukraine announced gains in a new counteroffensive, but Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed his claim that Kiev’s forces “stand no chance” in sectors where fighting has intensified.
‘clear message’
After Friday’s attack on Kiev, the Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 12 missiles, including six hypersonic missiles.
District police said there were no reports of damage inside the city, but seven people, including two children, were injured.
“With what happened today, it is also very clear to African leaders how sincere Putin is in stopping the conflict,” said Peter Stano, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
Ukrainian officials were also quick to draw attention to the strike.
Russian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, “Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace.”
The African leaders are scheduled to travel to the northwestern Russian city of St. Petersburg and meet Putin on Saturday.
“From our point of view, it is important to listen very carefully to what both countries have to say, and tomorrow we will now listen to President Putin,” Ramaphosa said.
Speaking at an annual economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday, Putin showed little appetite for peace talks, announcing the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus while calling Zelensky “a disgrace to the Jewish people.”
Russia first announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to its ally and neighbor in March, with Putin saying on Friday that “the first nuclear warheads have been delivered to the territory of Belarus.”
He said the weapons were meant to deter “those who would contemplate inflicting a strategic defeat on Prussia”.
Putin also told those present at the forum that he had “many Jewish friends” who told him “that Zelensky is not a Jew, and that he is a disgrace to the Jewish people.”
Despite Zelensky’s Jewish heritage, Moscow justified its war with claims that it needed to “de-Nazify” Ukraine.
‘touch livelihood’
Meanwhile, analysts said the delegation’s mediation efforts may hope to win some concessions from the Kremlin before the Russia-Africa summit next month.
The African continent has been hit hard by soaring grain and fertilizer prices as well as the broader impact on global trade since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
“This conflict also negatively affects African countries, affecting the livelihoods of 1.2 or 1.3 billion people on the African continent,” Ramaphosa said.
African nations were divided over their response to the war, with some siding with Ukraine and others remaining neutral or gravitating toward Moscow.
South Africa, for example, has come under scrutiny for its refusal to condemn the attack by Moscow.
The diplomatic team came to Kiev to express the concerns of the continent, which had suffered from the repercussions of the Russian invasion – in particular from the rise in grain prices – with the President of South Africa, Cyril. Ramaphosa Insisting that “there must be peace through negotiations”. z
but Zelensky She rejected this possibility during a joint press conference, telling reporters: “I said clearly many times in our meeting that allowing any negotiations with Russia now that the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war and freeze pain and suffering.”
Shortly after the arrival of the African leaders, sirens sound across the country as Russian missiles are detected, forcing the delegates to take shelter in the capital.
Zelensky said that the strike on Kiev during the delegation’s visit is proof of that put it in Either he did not control his army, or he was “irrational.”
Ramaphosa, however, took this barrage as evidence that both sides needed to stop fighting.
Quoting Nelson Mandela several times on the need for peace, Ramaphosa said, “It is precisely this kind of event that we saw today… that makes us call for de-escalation.”
Zelensky said in a statement that he called on the leaders to express their views on how to stop the “crimes committed by Russia”, and how to work towards achieving food security.
“But above all, we must restore the full force of the United Nations Charter, stop this brutal Russian aggression and liberate our land,” he added.
The African delegation had first gone to Bucha, a city outside the capital that has become synonymous with alleged war crimes committed by Moscow.
The group includes four presidents: Ramaphosa, Macky Sall of Senegalese, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Azali Assoumani of the Comoros, who currently heads the African Union.
The leaders of Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville pulled out of the visit at the last minute and sent representatives instead.
The talks came as Ukraine announced gains in a new counteroffensive, but Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed his claim that Kiev’s forces “stand no chance” in sectors where fighting has intensified.
‘clear message’
After Friday’s attack on Kiev, the Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 12 missiles, including six hypersonic missiles.
District police said there were no reports of damage inside the city, but seven people, including two children, were injured.
“With what happened today, it is also very clear to African leaders how sincere Putin is in stopping the conflict,” said Peter Stano, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
Ukrainian officials were also quick to draw attention to the strike.
Russian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, “Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace.”
The African leaders are scheduled to travel to the northwestern Russian city of St. Petersburg and meet Putin on Saturday.
“From our point of view, it is important to listen very carefully to what both countries have to say, and tomorrow we will now listen to President Putin,” Ramaphosa said.
Speaking at an annual economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday, Putin showed little appetite for peace talks, announcing the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus while calling Zelensky “a disgrace to the Jewish people.”
Russia first announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to its ally and neighbor in March, with Putin saying on Friday that “the first nuclear warheads have been delivered to the territory of Belarus.”
He said the weapons were meant to deter “those who would contemplate inflicting a strategic defeat on Prussia”.
Putin also told those present at the forum that he had “many Jewish friends” who told him “that Zelensky is not a Jew, and that he is a disgrace to the Jewish people.”
Despite Zelensky’s Jewish heritage, Moscow justified its war with claims that it needed to “de-Nazify” Ukraine.
‘touch livelihood’
Meanwhile, analysts said the delegation’s mediation efforts may hope to win some concessions from the Kremlin before the Russia-Africa summit next month.
The African continent has been hit hard by soaring grain and fertilizer prices as well as the broader impact on global trade since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
“This conflict also negatively affects African countries, affecting the livelihoods of 1.2 or 1.3 billion people on the African continent,” Ramaphosa said.
African nations were divided over their response to the war, with some siding with Ukraine and others remaining neutral or gravitating toward Moscow.
South Africa, for example, has come under scrutiny for its refusal to condemn the attack by Moscow.
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