Russian President Vladimir Putin met with a group of African leaders who had traveled to Russia on a self-proclaimed “peace mission” following their visit to Ukraine.
The meeting, held during Russia’s international economic forum in St. Petersburg, concluded without any discernible advancements in the peace process.
The delegation comprised the presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa, and Zambia, along with Egypt’s prime minister and high-level representatives from the Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Meeting Ends with No Visible Progress as Details of Peace Plan Remain Unclear
The African leaders had visited Ukraine a day prior to their meeting with Putin, aiming to assist in resolving the ongoing 16-month-long conflict. However, specific details about their proposals remained scarce, as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the peace plan, consisting of ten elements, had not been formally documented.
Putin expressed interest in proposal
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the challenges associated with implementing the African countries’ peace initiative, noting disparities between their position and Russia’s.
Despite this, President Putin expressed interest in considering the proposal, indicating a willingness to continue working towards a resolution.
Lavrov highlighted that the African Union delegation demonstrated an understanding of the root causes of the crisis, attributing it to Western influence. He emphasized the need to address these underlying causes as a basis for resolving the conflict.
Russia has justified its military intervention in Ukraine as a response to perceived threats arising from Ukraine’s desire to join NATO and its support from the United States and Western Europe.
