African leaders have urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to advance their peace plan to resolve the situation in Ukraine and extend an agreement on the secure sale of Ukrainian grain during times of war.
They served as reminders of the intensity of African concern at the effects of the conflict, particularly rising food prices, as their activities were more coordinated and stronger than those of African countries.
To stop the conflict
Putin and African leaders in St. Petersburg were informed by Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chair of the African Union Commission, that the war had to stop based on fairness and logic.
The African proposal outlines several potential measures to diffuse the situation, including a Russian troop withdrawal, the removal of Russian tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, the suspension of an arrest warrant for Putin issued by the International Criminal Court, and the easing of sanctions.
- African leaders urge Putin to advance peace plan, secure Ukrainian grain sale.
- Putin, African leaders demand fairness, the logic for war end.
- Putin honors African leaders for independence and prosperity.
When the African plan was presented to Putin last month, he was unimpressed. Presidents of the Congo and Senegal both made urgent calls for peace, with Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Congo calling for “a de-escalation to help create calm.”
The problem, in the opinion of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, may be resolved via positive engagement and diplomacy.
On the fringes of the summit, Putin paid tribute to charismatic national heroes in commemoration of African leaders who made a significant contribution to their countries’ independence and prosperity.
