African countries urge Putin to ‘show desire for peace’ in Ukraine
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Several African leaders have appealed to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to demonstrate his "desire for peace" ahead of the forthcoming Russia-Africa summit scheduled for late July, Senegalese President Macky Sall said in an interview with the Financial Times on July 10.
"Before the next Russia-Africa summit, he (Putin) must do some actions to show his desire to move forward (with peace) even in a humanitarian way," said Sall.
Sall indicated this request was delivered to Putin in June during the African leaders' "peace mission" to Kyiv and Moscow. He added that the release of captive soldiers and children abducted by Russian forces "could be a very good signal."
According to Sall, African leaders persist in using the Russia-Africa summit as a platform to push for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which the leaders have been striving to facilitate.
Sall is hopeful that during the forthcoming summit, leaders can have another meeting and "make some headway."
At the same time, Sall acknowledged Kyiv’s vow to not negotiate until Russia withdraws from occupied territories.
"Ukraine has said Russia must leave its occupied territory before they can negotiate and we understand that," said the Senegalese President.
On June 16, the heads of six African nations arrived in Kyiv and proposed a new initiative for peace in Ukraine. It suggested negotiating with Russia, even if the occupying forces don't leave Ukrainian territory.
On June 17, the same delegation arrived in Moscow, where South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged Putin to return to peaceful negotiations with Ukraine and end the war.
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