Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his country's commitment to engage in talks with Ukraine, underscoring that Russia has not rejected any peace negotiations. Speaking at a news conference in St. Petersburg following the Russia-Africa Summit, President Putin addressed the pressing issues surrounding Russia-Ukraine relations and potential pathways to peace, Reuters reports.
"We can't stop the fire when they attack us. When I say this, people start thinking. Or to start the peace talks. We never rejected them. You know I'm always saying we've never rejected the peace talks," President Putin asserted, emphasizing Russia's willingness to seek peaceful resolutions despite the ongoing hostilities.
During the press conference, President Putin acknowledged the significance of several peace initiatives, particularly highlighting Africa's peace initiative on Ukraine and the Chinese efforts in this direction.
He remarked, "In general, this initiative could be a basis for a certain process directed at finding peace, as well as the other ones, the Chinese one, for example."
This acknowledgment signals Russia's openness to explore various diplomatic avenues to bring about an end to the tensions.
The meeting with African leaders served as a platform for President Putin to reaffirm Russia's commitment to dialogue and cooperation with the international community in addressing regional and global challenges. The discussions were held in the context of the Russia-Africa Summit, which provided an opportunity for fruitful exchanges between Russia and African nations.
However, President Putin acknowledged the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, particularly the difficulties in implementing a ceasefire due to the Ukrainian army's offensive actions. This reality presents a formidable obstacle to achieving sustainable and lasting peace.
Previous interactions with African leaders
Daryo previously reported that the African leaders had proposed a peace plan in June in an effort to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Leaders from South Africa, the Comoros Islands, Egypt, Senegal, Zambia, Uganda, and the Republic of the Congo visited Kyiv on June 16 to meet with Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky. The next day, they traveled to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The aim was to explore initiatives for a ceasefire and confidence-building measures. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had announced in mid-May that Putin and Zelensky agreed to host the African leaders' mission to examine a potential peace proposal for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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