APA-Cape Town (South Africa) South Africa is to lead an African leaders peace mission to Russia and Ukraine to present the continent’s proposals on a peaceful resolution to the 14-month-long conflict between the two eastern European neighbours, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.
Addressing journalists following a meeting with visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Cape Town, Ramaphosa said he had presented proposals by an African leaders peace mission to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during separate telephone calls at the weekend.
“The two leaders agreed to receive the mission and the African Heads of State, in both Moscow and Kyiv,” Ramaphosa said.
He revealed that the main purpose of the discussions with Putin and Zelenskyy “are efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict in the Ukraine, its cost in human lives and impact on the African continent.”
“In this regard, I presented the initiative on behalf of African Heads of State, from Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa.”
He added: “I agreed with both President Putin and President Zelenskyy to commence with preparations for engagements with the African Heads of State.”
He said UN secretary general António Guterres has been briefed and has welcomed the African initiative.
JN/APA