The President of the Republic of South Africa (RSA), Cyril Ramaphosa, has unveiled a 10-step peace plan for resolving the Russia-Ukraine war, Interfax-Ukraine reported.
The plan was announced during a press conference in Kyiv, following a meeting between President Ramaphosa and his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelensky.
President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of diplomatic negotiations in achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He called for both sides to ease tensions, underlining the need for peacebuilding efforts instead of military actions.
“The main point of the peace plan that we brought here is that the war must be resolved, peace must be established through diplomatic negotiations," he said.
Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of respecting state sovereignty and the independence of peoples in accordance with the UN Charter. He emphasized the need for security guarantees for all countries in achieving peace.
"During our visit today, we heard rocket attacks. Such efforts do not work very well in peacebuilding. Therefore, we are talking about the need for both sides to ease the situation, so that a way will be found on how to achieve peace, how to resolve the situation," said the politician.
Additionally, the African peace plan addresses economic concerns stemming from the conflict. President Ramaphosa pointed out the negative effects the war has had on grain and fertilizer availability in Africa. He called for an alternative route to be established to facilitate the export of grain and fertilizers from both Ukraine and Russia.
"One of the reasons for our visit to Ukraine is that Africa is also experiencing the negative consequences of this war. Grain prices have increased, there is a shortage of fertilizers, and their prices have also increased," the South African leader stated.
Humanitarian assistance was identified as another critical aspect of the plan. African leaders expressed their support for providing aid to those affected by the conflict and emphasized the importance of a forced exchange of prisoners, including the safe return of children.
Post-war reconstruction and assistance for the victims of the conflict were identified as one of the vital steps of the plan. President Ramaphosa emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to supporting those impacted by the war.
President Ramaphosa concluded his remarks by expressing the desire for improved relations between Ukraine and African countries. He highlighted the positive global impact that would result from resolving the conflict and fostering stronger ties between nations.
“During the negotiations, Zelensky said that we should have better relations with African countries. We want this conflict to end. Its resolution will benefit the whole world together including Africa," concluded the South African leader.
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