South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to lead a delegation of African leaders on a mission to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Following discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the leaders have agreed to meet with the African delegation to explore a potential peace plan.
While the details of the plan have not been disclosed publicly, Ukraine has made it clear that a key condition for any peace deal is the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory.
President Ramaphosa, speaking at a press briefing in Cape Town alongside the Prime Minister of Singapore, expressed optimism about the leaders’ willingness to engage with the African mission and discuss ways to resolve the conflict.
The meetings are scheduled to take place in Moscow and Kyiv, with Putin and Zelenskiy receiving the African leaders in their respective capitals.
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The peace plan has garnered support from several African countries, including Senegal, Uganda, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. Furthermore, the United States and Britain have cautiously expressed their support for the initiative, while the United Nations Secretary-General has been briefed about the mission.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in February of the previous year, and although the war has reached a stalemate, Ukraine is reportedly preparing for a counteroffensive to reclaim its occupied territories.
South Africa, often considered a close ally of Russia on the African continent, maintains that it is impartial and has abstained from voting on United Nations resolutions pertaining to the conflict.
Last week, South Africa also dismissed allegations made by the U.S. ambassador regarding the loading of weapons onto a Russian vessel from a naval base in Cape Town back in December.
The upcoming discussions between the African delegation and the leaders of Russia and Ukraine hold promise for a potential breakthrough in the conflict, providing hope for a peaceful resolution in the region.
