Africa will present a peace plan for Ukraine
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, several countries and international leaders have tried to profile themselves as a mediator between the two nations with the aim of ending the conflict through bilateral talks and presenting possible peace plans.
After China presented its proposals for resolving the war, African leaders will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to lay the groundwork for the restoration of peace and an end to hostilities.
Mykolaiv last night after another russian attack. They destroyed many product shelves and cars. One person was injured there. #StopRussianAggression pic.twitter.com/DcosjANJLk
— Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) May 17, 2023
Both Zelensky and Putin have agreed to these meetings, as announced by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. "Both are ready to receive African leaders and discuss how to end this conflict," he said at a press conference. Ramaphosa described the war as "devastating", although he pointed out that the African continent "is also suffering a lot". Since the invasion began, African nations have experienced a huge increase in the price of cereals, which threatens the continent's food security.
#Monde : Le président sud-africain Cyril Ramaphosa a annoncé que 6 pays africains prévoient de se rendre en Russie et en Ukraine rendre en Russie et en Ukraine.#Diplomatie #Afrique #Russie #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/hOJ2fUKnhW
— Josly Ngoma (@josly_ngoma) May 17, 2023
The South African president has not unveiled any parts of the peace plan, although Kiev has repeatedly stressed that it will not agree to a deal until Russian troops are completely withdrawn from Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky and Putin will receive in their respective capitals - Kiev and Moscow - the African delegation made up of the leaders of Zambia, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Egypt, as well as Ramaphosa himself. Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as the United Nations, have been briefed on the plan, and according to Ramaphosa, both Washington and London have shown "cautious" support for the African continent's proposed plan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, meanwhile, "welcomed" the initiative.
#Ukraine️ / #Russia🇺🇦🇷🇺: footage of the counteroffensive of the 3rd OSHBr near #Bakhmut against the 72nd brigade of the Russian Air Force. Continued....#UkraineCounterofensive #Ukraine#UkraineRussiaWar️️ #UkraineWar pic.twitter.com/O57W5zn8FL
— Partigiano (@Al_iinkishariu) May 13, 2023
Several of the African nations in the delegation to Kiev and Moscow - South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Uganda - abstained from voting against the Russian invasion last year at the UN General Assembly. Zambia and Egypt, by contrast, did condemn Moscow's aggression.
Criticism of South Africa's closeness to Russia
The South African government, in particular, has been widely criticised in the West for its closeness to Moscow, even though Pretoria has always presented itself as a neutral actor. In this sense, South Africa has recently denounced suffering strong "pressure" to take sides in the war after the United States accused it of supplying arms to Russia, something Pretoria has strongly denied.
In the midst of these accusations, a meeting took place between General Oleg Salyukov, commander of Russia's ground forces, and his South African counterpart, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, where the two militaries discussed cooperation in this area, as well as the implementation of joint projects aimed at improving combat readiness.
