Zelensky and several African leaders discuss a possible peace agreement in Ukraine
16 (EUROPA PRESS)
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky and the leaders of several African nations have met this Friday in Kiev with the aim of moving towards the implementation of a peace agreement to end hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
At the end of the meeting, the Ukrainian president held a joint press conference in which he acknowledged that the search for a “true and just peace, without Russian blackmail or deceit, has indeed been at the center of the debate.” “Peace is needed,” he added.
“It is obvious that the cessation of Russian terror and the withdrawal of all Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine is what can stop this war. Ukraine and the whole world do not need either frozen conflicts or simmering wars,” Zelensky said in his Facebook channel.
Thus, the Ukrainian president has insisted that “all the nations of the world deserve to live freely without politically or militarily imposing the will of others”, although he has stressed that this is complicated “as long as Russia tries to convert aggression and theft of foreign lands into a norm”.
“Today I have called on the participants in our meeting to present their vision of how to overcome the consequences of the crimes committed by Russia and prevent their repetition,” he said, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Presidency.
Likewise, he took the opportunity to recall that the demilitarization of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is necessary, as well as its return to Ukrainian control. “I called on the participants to present their vision of how to achieve it when the only thing that Russia is interested in is increasing the production of its missiles to spread terror and commit new crimes against people,” he stressed.
“We really help the world, and specifically many nations in Africa, Asia and Europe, to maintain social stability and price predictability in the food market thanks to our exports. Together with our partners, we are working on grain centers in Africa”, he detailed.
Present at the meeting were both President Zelenski and his Comoros counterparts, Azali Assoumani; South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa; Senegal, Macky Sall, Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema; the Prime Minister of Egypt, Mustafa Madbuli; and special envoys from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
RUSSIAN ATTACK ON kyiv
The day was marked by a Russian air offensive on the Ukrainian capital shortly before the arrival of the African leaders, which has aroused criticism from the Ukrainian authorities.
During the aforementioned appearance, President Zelenski, who had not yet commented on the matter, regretted that this attack shows “Russia’s real attitude of disdain for efforts to restore peace and for all world leaders who are trying to protect to the world of aggression”.
“Russia is the only source of war and the only reason why the consequences of this war harm the entire world and different peoples on all continents,” added the Ukrainian head of state.
In this regard, President Ramaphosa has also expressed himself, who has stressed that this type of operation “does not work very well to establish peace.” “We are talking about the need for a de-escalation on both sides so that peace can come and the problem can be resolved.”
