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Moscow ‘carefully’ studies African peace proposals on Ukraine: Putin

Friday, 28 July 2023 11:08 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 28 July 2023 11:38 AM ]

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that his government is “carefully studying” the detailed peace proposals from some African leaders on putting an end to the military conflict in Ukraine.

On the second day of the Russia-Africa meeting in St. Petersburg on Friday, Putin said that Russia respects the proposals of African governments and examines them carefully.

"Previous mediation initiatives were monopolized by so-called advanced democracies. Now Africa too is ready to help resolve problems that appear to be outside of its area of priorities," he said.

The Russia-Africa summit comes on the heels of Moscow's withdrawal from an agreement to allow the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

In June, an African delegation traveled first to Ukraine and then to Russia to mediate the military conflict in Ukraine.

Reduction of military tensions, security guarantees for both sides, and mutual recognition of sovereignty were among the proposals of African governments to end tensions.

Ukraine rejected the offer, saying that to end the conflict, it must ensure that Russian forces leave Ukraine.

Putin promises African leaders free grain, blasts 'hypocritical' Western sanctions

Russia and China, in particular, have consolidated their relations with African states in recent years.

The Kremlin had previously said that implementing African proposals would be "very difficult".

On Tuesday, the Kremlin said the United States, France, and other Western countries were putting an unprecedented level of pressure on all African countries to prevent them from taking part in the Russia-Africa summit.

Over the past decade, Russia and China, in particular, have consolidated their relations with African states in a number of domains, from trade to energy and military cooperation.

Russia has historically enjoyed warm relations with many African countries, as their economic and ideological ambitions often align and their ties are bolstered by a mutual mistrust of the West.

The war in Ukraine has highlighted the growing diversification in the partnerships of countries in the Middle East and Africa with global powers.

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