South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said that negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky during the trip of African leaders to Russia and Ukraine were open, according to her, they were both honest.
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“We had very open talks, at some points very thorough, and it was good. Both leaders were honest with our delegation. But we were … equally open and honest,” Pandor said in a conversation with reporters, excerpts from which posted on Twitter by local media.
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Pandor added that it is too early to say that the mission of African leaders will succeed until there are negotiations between the two sides of the conflict. But, in her opinion, it can be called a success that the openness and intention of Russia and Ukraine to continue interaction with African leaders was recorded.
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that Putin and Zelensky, during the visits of African leaders to the Russian Federation and Ukraine, agreed to further interaction with them. He noted the importance of the warm reception of the delegation of African leaders in Russia and Ukraine and expressed the hope that this gives reason to believe that their proposals for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine will be considered.
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Earlier on Sunday, a representative delegation of African leaders – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegalese President Maki Sall, Comoros President Otman Ghazali and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema – arrived at a meeting with the Russian President in St. Petersburg from Kiev, where a meeting with Zelensky took place on Friday. The African initiative to resolve the Ukrainian crisis was presented, which consists of 10 points. They concern security guarantees, freedom of movement of grain across the Black Sea, the release of prisoners of war and the early start of negotiations.
