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Johannesburg: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa On Monday he hailed the African mission to broker peace in Ukraine as “historic” in an effort welcomed by France.
Ramaphosa made this statement upon his return from the talks in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and the Russian city of St. Petersburg, which did not produce any immediate results.
A high-ranking delegation of presidents and envoys met the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday before heading to Russia to speak with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Sunday.
“Any peace effort is positive if it aims to restore the principles of the UN Charter ‘with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace’,” French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told reporters on a visit to Pretoria on Monday, deflecting reporters’ questions about Pretoria’s close ties with Russia.
South Africa, a continental power, has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine that has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage, saying it wants to remain neutral and favors dialogue to end the war.
The mission of African leaders has brought the voice of a continent that has suffered badly from the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine, particularly with soaring grain prices.
He put forward a 10-point proposal, including de-escalation, recognition of countries’ sovereignty, unhindered grain exports across the Black Sea, and the return of prisoners of war and children to their countries of origin.
But the Kremlin considered these principles “very difficult to implement,” while Zelensky ruled out holding talks with Moscow as long as Russian forces occupied Ukrainian territory.
“This initiative was historic in that it was the first time that African leaders had embarked on a peace mission outside the shores of the continent,” Ramaphosa said Monday in his weekly newsletter.
He said that “one of the main achievements” of the mission “is the positive reception” that has been received from both sides, “which gives cause for optimism that the proposals will be considered.”
both of them Zelensky He said Putin agreed to more engagements.
Analysts told AFP that efforts to secure peace look increasingly risky, with both Kiev and Moscow convinced they can win on the battlefield.
Ukraine launched a long-awaited counterattack earlier this month.
Ramaphosa expressed his hope that “a basis can be laid for de-escalation of the conflict and for negotiation.”
The diplomatic team included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Comoros and Zambia, as well as senior officials from Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville.
South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor denied rumors during the joint press conference with her French counterpart that the African peace plan includes a proposal to suspend an international arrest warrant against Putin.
“There is no such thing,” she said.
The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Putin stems from accusations that Russia illegally deported Ukrainian children.
Ramaphosa made this statement upon his return from the talks in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and the Russian city of St. Petersburg, which did not produce any immediate results.
A high-ranking delegation of presidents and envoys met the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday before heading to Russia to speak with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Sunday.
“Any peace effort is positive if it aims to restore the principles of the UN Charter ‘with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace’,” French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told reporters on a visit to Pretoria on Monday, deflecting reporters’ questions about Pretoria’s close ties with Russia.
South Africa, a continental power, has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine that has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage, saying it wants to remain neutral and favors dialogue to end the war.
The mission of African leaders has brought the voice of a continent that has suffered badly from the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine, particularly with soaring grain prices.
He put forward a 10-point proposal, including de-escalation, recognition of countries’ sovereignty, unhindered grain exports across the Black Sea, and the return of prisoners of war and children to their countries of origin.
But the Kremlin considered these principles “very difficult to implement,” while Zelensky ruled out holding talks with Moscow as long as Russian forces occupied Ukrainian territory.
“This initiative was historic in that it was the first time that African leaders had embarked on a peace mission outside the shores of the continent,” Ramaphosa said Monday in his weekly newsletter.
He said that “one of the main achievements” of the mission “is the positive reception” that has been received from both sides, “which gives cause for optimism that the proposals will be considered.”
both of them Zelensky He said Putin agreed to more engagements.
Analysts told AFP that efforts to secure peace look increasingly risky, with both Kiev and Moscow convinced they can win on the battlefield.
Ukraine launched a long-awaited counterattack earlier this month.
Ramaphosa expressed his hope that “a basis can be laid for de-escalation of the conflict and for negotiation.”
The diplomatic team included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Comoros and Zambia, as well as senior officials from Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville.
South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor denied rumors during the joint press conference with her French counterpart that the African peace plan includes a proposal to suspend an international arrest warrant against Putin.
“There is no such thing,” she said.
The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Putin stems from accusations that Russia illegally deported Ukrainian children.
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