South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa gestures as he addresses media after talks in Kyiv on June 16, 2023. – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on June 16, 2023 called on Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate their conflict, as he arrived in the war-torn country on a mission to broker peace. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)
WATCH: Ramaphosa arrives in Russia for peace talks with Putin
Following discussions with Ukrainian President Zelensky on Friday, the African Peace Mission meets with Putin in St Petersburg to seek a path towards peace and stability.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa gestures as he addresses media after talks in Kyiv on June 16, 2023. – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on June 16, 2023 called on Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate their conflict, as he arrived in the war-torn country on a mission to broker peace. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)
President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in St Petersburg, Russia, for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Saturday, 17 June. The Russian stop is the second leg of the African Peace Mission to region over the conflict in Ukraine.
President Ramaphosa Seeks Road to Peace in 16-Month Conflict as African Leaders Meet with Putin in St Petersburg
In a statement on Saturday, the Presidency described Ramaphosa and other African leaders’ discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday as constructive.
“This afternoon, President Ramaphosa together with the Heads State of Zambia, the Comoros and Senegal and Heads of Government of Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, and Uganda, as participants in the African Leaders Peace Mission, will meet with President Vladimir Putin to seek a road to peace to the 16 months long conflict between Ukraine and Russia which has thus caused devastating economic impact, loss of life and global instability,” said the Presidency.
DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor is also on the trip. As previously reported, Ramaphosa said peace should be achieved through negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelensky, however, ruled out the possibility of discussions with Russia while troops still occupied Ukrainian land. “I clearly said several times at our meeting that to allow any negotiations with Russia now that the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war, to freeze pain and suffering,” he said.
READ: African Leaders to meet Putin after Zelensky rules out negotiations with Russia
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