President of Guinea-Bissau, Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Umaro Sissoco Embalo arrived in Kiev on Wednesday, a day after his trip to Moscow where he expressed readiness to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
“Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo became the first leader of an African state to visit our country after February 24. Glad to welcome you in Ukraine!” President Vladimir Zelensky posted on his Telegram channel.
He also shared a video of his meeting with the president of Guinea-Bissau and of talks between the delegations of the two countries led by their respective heads of state.
Sissoco Embalo visited Moscow on Tuesday and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ECOWAS chairman expressed his willingness to facilitate a dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
He also noted that African countries were interested in a speedy resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, stressing that the situation on the grain and fertiliser markets due to the Ukrainian conflict has had negative consequences around the world.
Embalo announced that Putin is ready to negotiate with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Embalo spoke about it during a joint briefing with Zelensky. The Office of the President of Ukraine published a video recording of the meeting.
“I was in Russia yesterday, I met with President Putin, and he asked me to speak with you and to convey a message. […] He told me that he is ready for negotiations with President Zelensky,” said the leader of Guinea-Bissau.
Commenting on Putin’s proposal, Zelensky noted that Russia has already used 400 Iranian drones in attacks on Ukraine. “That’s the kind of dialogue Mister President spoke about. Instead of words, 400 missiles,” he said.
Zelensky invited Russia, before resuming negotiations, to stop shelling Ukrainian infrastructure, blocking Black Sea ports, and threatening the use of nuclear weapons.