South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have agreed to meet with the leaders of six African countries to discuss a possible plan to end the war in Ukraine.
Cyril Ramaphosa said he had telephoned Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky and both agreed to host a peace mission in Moscow and Kiev, comprising the leaders of Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa, respectively.
“I have agreed with both President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to start preparing to engage with African heads of state, we hope to discuss a number of issues,” he said.
He made the statement at a time when Ukraine claimed to have shot down Russian drones and missiles overnight hours before the visit of a special envoy from China.
China’s special envoy is expected to arrive in Ukraine on a two-day visit to promote peace talks.
A Ukrainian official source said he is expected to meet with the foreign minister and other high-ranking officials, three weeks after President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Ukraine’s air defense systems shot down a total of 18 missiles, as well as nine drones, the Defense Ministry said, with Russia claiming all hits were on target.
On the other hand, the President of South Africa said that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the African Union have been briefed on the peace initiative and they have welcomed it.
Cyril Ramaphosa said that this initiative on behalf of African countries has cautious support in the United States, and has also visited the capitals of several European countries, where peacekeeping mission facilitators have been tasked with presenting the plan.
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2024-08-18 09:34:08
