South Africa will present this weekend to the presidents of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, and Russia, Vladimir Putin, the deployment of a “peacekeeping mission of African leaders” to “find a peaceful solution” to the war in Ukraine, South African head of state Cyril Ramaphosa announced today.

“During this weekend, I will introduce a peacekeeping mission of African leaders to (Russian) President Vladimir Putin and (Ukrainian) President Volodimir Zelensky via separate phone calls”So said Ramaphosa in Cape Town (southwest) during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, who is visiting South Africa.

“I present this initiative on behalf of the African Heads of State from Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa,” said the South African president, assuring that both Zelensky and Putin have already “agreed to receive” the mission in Kiev and Moscow.

“The Secretary-General of the United Nations has been informed and welcomed the initiative,” he added.

In this way, according to Ramaphosa, Africa’s leaders will try to find “a peaceful solution to the devastating conflict in Ukraine, the loss of life and its impact on the African continent”.

The South African president’s announcement came after the US ambassador to South Africa last week accused the country of supplying arms to Russia, though the diplomat later explained that his words had been misunderstood.

In response, the South African president yesterday assured that his country maintains a “non-alignment” position regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine.

two sides of the balance

According to Ramaphosa, South Africa, with its neutral position, is “trying to contribute to the creation of the conditions that will allow for a lasting solution to the conflict”, a position that at no time “favors Russia over other countries” and does not want to ” jeopardizing our relations with other countries.

Of the leaders meeting with Ramaphosa, Zambia and Congo lean towards supporting the West. Senegal and Uganda tend more towards Russia. Egypt has sought a balanced position on the conflict.

“We expect intense discussions.” He did not give a specific timetable for the visit or other details, saying only that the conflict was “devastating” and that Africa “also suffers a lot”.

African countries have been hit hard by rising grain prices and the impact on world trade attributed to the war.