A joint statement featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders of African nations engaged in the peace mission concerning Ukraine has been released on the official Kremlin website. This agreed-upon document was made public by the Republic of South Africa (RSA) authorities on Thursday evening.
Within this collective statement, the leaders acknowledged advancements achieved based on the proposals deliberated upon during their initial meeting on June 17, particularly those concerning humanitarian concerns. The statement emphasized issues related to the well-being of children residing within conflict zones and the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. The leaders concurred that the ongoing humanitarian initiatives are set to yield further positive outcomes.
"The leaders emphasized the necessity for tangible actions aimed at eliminating barriers to the export of Russian grain and fertilizers. These actions are essential to restore the complete execution of the grain agreement," the document stated. Additionally, they urged the United Nations to take the required steps to release 200,000 tons of Russian fertilizers currently held up in European Union seaports. These fertilizers are intended for prompt and cost-free distribution to African nations.
The statement further highlighted that "the leaders are in agreement to maintain ongoing dialogue pertaining to the African peace initiative, aimed at forging a path towards lasting peace."
In late July, President Putin convened a meeting with participants of the African peace mission during the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg. The session brought together leaders from Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Senegal, Uganda, South Africa, the President of the Comoros in his capacity as the chair of the African Union, and the Zambian foreign minister.
This engagement marked the second round of discussions during the summer. The initial dialogue occurred on June 17 at the Konstantinovsky Palace. During this meeting, Putin emphasized that Moscow remained open to negotiations with Kiev and highlighted that it was the Ukrainian authorities who rejected the draft treaty initially endorsed in Istanbul in March 2022, relegating it to history's sidelines. Subsequently, Dmitriy Peskov, the Russian presidential press secretary, revealed that following these talks, the Russian side had formulated its own draft statement, which was handed over to the South African delegation before their departure from St. Petersburg.
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Based on materials from TASS