African Leaders Discuss Ukraine Initiative With Putin, Statement Being Prepared: Kremlin
11:35 29.07.2023 (Updated: 10:43 03.08.2023)
© Photo Photohost-TASS Agency
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The African leaders and the Russian President Vladimir Putin have been discussing the Ukraine crisis following the second Russia-Africa Summit, which took place in St. Petersburg from July 27-28. During the Summit, both sides demonstrated high interest in further work on the issue.
A number of the African leaders discussed Ukrainian peace initiative at a meeting with Vladimir Putin and the final statement is being prepared, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"As a result of this meeting, a short joint statement is being prepared, which, as soon as it is agreed, will be released immediately," he announced.
As Putin stated during the meeting on Ukraine, Russia has carefully analyzed the thoughts and considerations of African countries on Ukraine, and appreciates their determination to find a just and fair solution to the Ukraine crisis.
"We have carefully analyzed the thoughts and considerations expressed by our African friends, we take this very seriously and with great attention," Putin said at a Friday meeting in St. Petersburg with the heads of African delegations.
The Russian leader added that Moscow has repeatedly publicly voiced its readiness for talks with Kiev.
"But after the withdrawal of our troops from near Kiev - and we were asked to do this in order to create conditions for the conclusion of a final agreement - the Kiev authorities abandoned all previous agreements," Putin said, adding that now, "the ball is completely on their side."
During the meeting dedicated to the topic of Ukraine, the Russian leader expressed the hope that the African colleagues understand the nature and origins of the Ukraine crisis.
"We tried to convey our vision of this problem. We believe that the problem did not arise yesterday, and was provoked by some forces in the West, who had been preparing for a hybrid war with our country for many years, doing everything to turn Ukraine into a tool to undermine the foundations of Russia's security, to damage Russian positions in the world, and to undermine our statehood," Putin said.
The head of state emphasized that it was the coup in Ukraine in 2014, which Western countries actively supported, that led to the current crisis.
According to the president, Ukraine abandoned the agreements reached after the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Kiev area and Moscow does not understand why Western countries are dragging Ukraine into NATO, creating a security threat.
"Not everyone knows this, but we know it well, that Kiev received its sovereignty and independence during the collapse of the Soviet Union on the basis of a declaration of independence, and in this declaration it was written in black and white that Ukraine is a neutral state. And for us, it is of fundamental importance. Why the West began to draw Ukraine into NATO is not very clear to us," Putin said at a Friday meeting in St. Petersburg with the heads of African delegations.
Putin also stressed that Russia does not violate the UN Charter and acts in full accordance with it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
"We are being told today that we are violating the Charter of the United Nations. I do not think that this is the case. On the contrary, I believe that we act in full accordance with the UN Charter," Putin said at a working lunch with the heads of the African delegations on Ukraine.
The principles of the UN Charter must be respected by other states as well, the president added.
"There should not be any double standards, unilateral sanctions and attempts to ensure their own security at the expense of others," Putin concluded.
Despite West's failure to comply with the UN Charter, Russia is ready to seeks a peaceful settlement to the Ukraine Conflict, Putin outlined.
"They do not care for the UN Charter, they refer to the international law only when they believe that these tools can be used against someone, in this case against Russia. They will not succeed, it is too primitive. If they really want someone to comply with the UN Charter and other documents of international law, they have to comply with the same norms themselves. But this, nevertheless, does not mean that we do not want and do not seek a peaceful resolution of the conflict," he elaborated.
The leader also thanked the African leaders for their approach in seeking a just and fair solution to the Ukraine crisis.
"I know that you are sincerely striving to render possible assistance in achieving a just and sustainable solution to the conflict, and we, of course, greatly appreciate your balanced approach, as well as the fact that you did not support and do not support the anti-Russian rhetoric, anti-Russian campaign," Putin said.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said during the meeting with Putin that African countries want peace in Ukraine and have the right to call for peace. Ramaphosa said that the African peace initiative on Ukraine should in no way be seen as a substitute for other initiatives, but can complement other efforts.
Earlier on Friday, Ramaphosa said that he hoped that some aspects of Africa’s peace plan on Ukraine would be discussed at the meeting with Putin.
