South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Russia on Saturday after leading a peacekeeping mission of African heads of state in Kiev. The president has arrived in St. Petersburg, the South African presidential office reports in the online service Twitter. There, Ramaphosa will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “to look for a way to peace after the 16-month conflict between Ukraine and Russia.”
The statement stressed that the military conflict would have “devastating economic consequences, loss of life and global instability”. The delegation led by Ramaphosa in Kiev on Friday called on both sides to “de-escalate”. However, Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyy currently rejects negotiations with Russia. The South African presidential office nevertheless spoke of “constructive talks” with Zelenskyj on Saturday.
African countries hit hard by the war in Ukraine
In addition to Ramaphosa, the peacekeeping mission includes three other presidents of African countries: Macky Sall (Senegal), Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia) and Azali Assoumani (Comoros), currently president of the African Union. There are also representatives from Congo, Uganda and Egypt. African countries are being hit hard by the extreme rise in grain prices due to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and other effects on world trade. Both Ukraine and Russia are internationally important producers of wheat and other agricultural products.
However, in the war in Ukraine, the African countries take different positions – some are on the side of Ukraine, some remain neutral, others turn to Moscow. South Africa is repeatedly criticized in the West for not yet condemning Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Some analysts say the African delegation may be able to get some concessions from Moscow ahead of a Russia-Africa summit next month.
Source: Krone
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