South African President: Putin and Zelensky agreed to accept an African peace mission

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, following a conversation with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky, said that they agreed to accept the mission of African leaders to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

“I presented the initiative on behalf of Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa. Both leaders with whom I had the opportunity to speak are President Putin <...> and Zelensky, have agreed that they are ready to accept the mission of African heads of state in Moscow and Kyiv,” said Ramaphosa (quote according to RIA Novosti).

The President of South Africa added that he had agreed with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts to start preparing for interaction with African leaders, and also said that UN Secretary General António Guterres and the office of the African Union had been informed about these plans.

The day before Ramaphosa assuredthat will not accept one of the parties to the conflict in Ukraine and advocates an urgent cessation of hostilities. According to the President of South Africa, the international community needs to work together to prevent further loss of life and achieve peace.

“To him [международному сообществу] a meaningful dialogue must be maintained in order to achieve a lasting peace that ensures the security and stability of all nations,” the text of the President’s weekly message to the citizens of South Africa reads.

In August this year, South Africa will host the BRICS summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). At the end of March, the South African Foreign Ministry reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin was invited to the BRICS summit, despite the fact that the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) “is some cause for concern.”

On March 17, the Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Russian Federation. After that, Peskov said that the decisions of the ICC have no legal force and are void. Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that this decision would have “monstrous” consequences for international law, and added that “the practical value [в этом нет] no”.