Kiev and Moscow ready to meet African delegation to discuss peace plan

by Wendell Rolfe

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky had met with a delegation of African leaders to discuss a possible peace plan to end the conflict. agreed to hold the meeting.

The details have not been released publicly, but Ukraine has always reiterated that a peace plan must include the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory.

Cyril Ramaphosa said during a press briefing in Cape Town, “My discussions with the two leaders showed that they were prepared to welcome African leaders and negotiate ways to end the conflict.”

A press release from the presidency of South Africa states that Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky have agreed to receive delegations in their respective capitals.

The peace plan is also supported by African leaders from Senegal, Uganda, Egypt, Republic of the Congo and Zambia.

Cyril Ramaphosa said that the US and Britain had expressed “cautious” support for the peace plan; and that the United Nations Secretary-General was also informed of the initiative.

Considered one of Russia’s closest African allies, Pretoria claims to be neutral and has abstained from voting on any resolution at the United Nations condemning the Russian aggression.

South Africa last week rejected US allegations that weapons were delivered to Russia in December from a naval base in Cape Town.

(Reporting by Wendell Rolfe and Bhargav Acharya; French version Zhifan Liu; Editing by Blandine Heinault)