Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, said on Monday that the continent’s peace mission to Ukraine and Russia to discuss a ceasefire was “historic” and had “positive reception” in both Moscow and Kyiv.
During their weekend visit, the high-profile African delegation tasked with mediating a halt to hostilities between Russia and Ukraine met with both presidents, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.
In a statement issued on Monday, the peace mission’s member from South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, called the move “historic” because it marked the first time African leaders “embarked on a peace mission beyond the shores of the continent.”
During their meetings with Putin and Zelenskyy, the African delegation presented a 10-point plan that prioritized de-escalation, called for the recognition of national sovereignty, unrestricted grain exports through the Black Sea, and called for the return of children and prisoners of war to their home countries.
“One of the key achievements of the Peace Mission was the positive reception we received from both sides, which we found encouraging and which provides cause for optimism that the proposals will be given consideration,” read Ramaphosa’s statement.
“As African leaders, our primary concern is for the lives of the people directly affected by the conflict. We believe that everything should be done to end the fighting to prevent further loss of life, injury, displacement and destruction,” added the statement.
Senegalese expert Ibrahima Kane told reporters that a de-escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine would be good for Africa.
“Maybe the de-escalation they (African leaders) want between Russia and Ukraine will also help to really diminish the oil prices and others,” Kane said.
“I think it’s just defending the interests of the African countries first and also pleading for peace,” he added.
The warring Eastern European leaders agreed to further engagements with Africa, despite the Kremlin deeming some principles “difficult to implement,” and Kyiv ruling out talks with Moscow as long as Russian troops occupied Ukrainian territories.
Russia’s government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the talks with Africa’s peace mission included themes “which have every chance of being implemented,” and will further be discussed during the Russia-Africa summit due in a month’s time in St. Petersburg.
“Any peace effort is positive if it aims to restore the principles of the UN Charter” with the “goal of a just and lasting peace,” French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told reporters on a visit to Pretoria Monday, dodging journalists’ questions over Pretoria’s close ties to Russia.
A continental powerhouse, South Africa has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine which has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage, saying it wants to stay neutral and prefers dialogue to end the war.