South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky have expressed their joint aspiration for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The two leaders held discussions on Tuesday at the request of the Ukrainian president, as announced by the South African presidency in a statement on Wednesday.
President Ramaphosa welcomed President Zelensky’s dedication to reviving the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and both leaders pledged to continue their collaborative efforts in this regard.
Russia had previously withdrawn from the grain initiative, which had been facilitated by the UN and Turkey in July 2022 and permitted the export of grain from Ukrainian ports to global markets.
Ukraine has since proposed the establishment of grain hubs in African ports.
In a related development, last month, Kenyan President William Ruto revealed that Ukraine had agreed to establish a grain hub at the port of Mombasa to supply the East African region.
Countries such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan were among those that benefitted from the Black Sea Grain deal.
During their discussions, President Ramaphosa reiterated his country’s commitment to actively engage in the Africa Peace Initiative, which had been presented earlier in the year by seven African leaders as a potential foundation for peace.
He also affirmed South Africa’s participation in talks related to the peace proposal outlined by Ukraine, which take place at the level of national security advisers.
Source-BBC
