Putin and Zelensky are said to have accepted an attempt to mediate in the Ukraine war. An African delegation now apparently wants to travel to Moscow and Kiev.
Cape Town - Will Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soon be negotiating a solution to the Ukraine war? The South African head of state Cyril Ramaphosa has now hinted at this. Both Putin and Zelensky have agreed to meet with a group of African leaders who want to present a peace plan. This is reported by the Reuters news agency.
Solution conceivable? Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky are said to have agreed to an initiative from Africa. © Imago (montage)
It is not known exactly what this peace plan will look like. So far, Russia and Ukraine have irreconcilable positions in the conflict: Zelensky is fighting for all Russian troops to be withdrawn from his country and does not want to hold talks with Russia before that. Meanwhile, Russia launched massive missile attacks on Kyiv again on Tuesday (16 May) and has already declared four Ukrainian regions its own territory in violation of international law.
Phone calls with Putin and Zelensky - "Discuss how to end conflict"
Ramaphosa said he had had separate phone calls with Putin and Zelensky over the weekend. He presented an initiative developed by South Africa, Zambia, Senegal, the Republic of Congo, Uganda and Egypt. "My talks with the two leaders have shown that both are ready to receive African leaders and discuss how to end this conflict," Ramaphosa said at a press conference with Singapore's prime minister in Cape Town.
"Whether this succeeds or not will depend on the discussions that are held," the head of state continued. Putin and Zelensky want to receive the African delegation in their respective capitals, he explained. The African heads of state now wanted to travel to Russia and Ukraine "as soon as possible".
Negotiations in the Ukraine war as an African mission? The West should be informed
The South African president also commented on the reactions of Ukraine's Western supporters to the initiative, saying that the United States and Great Britain had expressed their "cautious" support for the plan. UN Secretary-General António Guterres was also informed about the initiative.
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South Africa has taken a rather neutral position since the beginning of the Ukraine war. The country has so far refused to officially condemn Russia's actions. In February, South Africa also held naval maneuvers together with Russia and China. In the West, the South African position was followed with concern.
Negotiations in the Ukraine war, most recently between negotiators
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine took place mainly at the beginning of the war - not between Putin and Zelensky directly, but between negotiators. Recently, Zelensky was more willing to talk: After a spring offensive, there could possibly be negotiations, Kyiv said. (smu/Reuters/AFP)
