Peskov: Russia is ready to continue dialogue with African countries on Ukraine

Russia will continue dialogue with African countries to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, among the topics that were proposed at the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the heads of delegations of African countries, there were topics that can be implemented. This was announced by the press secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov.

“In general, the dialogue with Africans will continue. In those ideas that were set forth at the talks by members of the delegations, there are certain themes that can be fully implemented. President Putin spoke about this. This work will continue, including at the Russia-Africa summit, which will be held in St. Petersburg in a month,” he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin June 17 accepted in St. Petersburg, a mission of seven African countries, which presented a peace initiative to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. It was led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The meeting lasted over three hours.

During the meeting, Ramaphosa said that it is time for Russia and Ukraine to start negotiations, and African countries can make a positive contribution to this process, he said. The President of the Russian Federation, in turn, spoke about the implementation of the grain deal and cited data on the supply of agricultural products to needy countries in Africa. Of the total volume, only 3.1% of the grain was exported there, Putin said. The head of state also showed for the first time the treaty between Kyiv and Moscow initialed at last year’s talks in Turkey.

A day earlier, Ramaphosa, together with President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Comoros Azali Assoumani (chairing the African Union in 2023), President of Senegal Maki Salem, Prime Minister of Egypt Mustafa Madbouly, as well as special representatives of the Presidents of the Congo and Uganda, Florent Ntsiba and Ruhakana Rugunda met in Kiev with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

At this meeting ten points of the plan of the African delegations to resolve the conflict were announced. They include the need to achieve peace “through negotiations and diplomatic means”, an end to hostilities “as soon as possible”, “de-escalation of the conflict on both sides”, “respect for the sovereignty of States and peoples in accordance with the UN Charter”, “security guarantees for all countries ”, providing Russia and Ukraine with the movement of grain and fertilizers for needy countries in Africa; humanitarian support “to the victims, the real victims [конфликта]”, the exchange and return of prisoners of war and displaced persons, “including children”, “reconstruction of Ukraine” and “deeper involvement of Africa in the peace process”.