MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that Moscow is carefully considering proposals made by some African leaders to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking on the second day of the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg, Putin expressed respect for the African leaders’ initiatives and assured them that their proposals were under thorough examination.
The peace initiative, presented by African leaders to both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last month, has yet to gain traction with either side. Putin initially responded to the initiative by listing Russian grievances against Ukraine and the West. Zelenskiy, on the other hand, rejected the idea of a ceasefire that would leave Russia in control of a significant portion of Ukraine’s territory and allow Russian forces time to regroup.
At the summit, Putin also highlighted Russia’s commitment to Africa by announcing increased food supplies to the continent, including some free grain shipments. He expressed interest in strengthening military cooperation with African nations. Putin further revealed that Russia is prepared to supply certain weapons to Africa for free to bolster security on the continent. Additionally, Russia aims to enhance collaboration with African law enforcement and intelligence services.
African Countries’ Relations with Russia
During the summit, Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadera praised his country’s relations with Russia, stating that they played a crucial role in saving its democracy and preventing a civil war. Wagner mercenaries had arrived in CAR in 2018 to support the government in suppressing a civil war that had persisted since 2012. In February, the Russian ambassador to CAR disclosed the presence of 1,890 “Russian instructors” in the country. Recently, Wagner fighters were deployed to CAR to help secure a constitutional referendum held on July 30.
The Russia-Africa summit follows Russia’s decision to withdraw from a deal allowing Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, raising concerns among African nations. An African delegation had traveled to both Ukraine and Russia in June, offering mediation in the conflict. The African proposals included military de-escalation, security guarantees for both sides, and mutual recognition of sovereignty. However, Ukraine rejected the offer, arguing that it would freeze the conflict without ensuring the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian soil. The Kremlin had also previously deemed the African proposals challenging to implement.
