The President of South Africa called on Moscow and Kyiv to start negotiations

It is time for Russia and Ukraine to start negotiations, African countries can make a positive contribution to this process, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Representatives of seven African states arrived in St. Petersburg today to discuss possible ways to resolve the situation around Ukraine. According to Ramaphosa, these countries can make a positive contribution to the negotiation process, they do it “with the deepest respect for both countries.”

“The time has come for both sides to start negotiations and end this war, because this war entails instability and harm to various countries around the world,” said President of South Africa (quote from RIA Novosti).

In addition to Ramaphosa, the delegation that arrived in the Russian Federation included President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema, Chairman of the African Union, President of the Comoros Asumani Azali, President of Senegal Macky Sall, Prime Minister of Egypt Mustafa Madbouli, Minister of State, Director of the Cabinet of the President of the Congo Florent Ntsiba, as well as a special Envoy-at-Large of the President of Uganda, Ruhakan Rugunda. The Russian side is represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin reported.

African Delegation arrived to St. Petersburg after a visit to Kyiv. The President of South Africa, following its results, presented the “10 points” of the African “peace plan”. Earlier, Ramaphosa said that he would not accept one of the parties to the conflict in Ukraine and advocated an urgent cessation of hostilities.