KYIV/CAPE TOWN: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday six African leaders plan to travel to Russia and Ukraine “as soon as is possible” to help find a resolution to the war, claiming that both Putin and Zelensky have agreed to receive the mission and the African heads of state, in both Moscow and Kyiv.

Ramaphosa told a presser that he had held separate phone calls with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine and presented an initiative drawn up by Zambia, Senegal, the Republic of Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa.

“I agreed with both President Putin and President Zelensky to commence with preparations for engagements with the African heads of state. We’re hoping we will have intensive discussions,” he said.

The South African leader made the statement at a time when Kyiv claimed to have downed an entire barrage of Russian drones and missiles overnight, hours ahead of a visit from a special envoy dispatched by China.

Pretoria claims Moscow, Kyiv have agreed to welcome African leaders; top Chinese envoy visits Ukraine for peace initiative

Beijing’s special envoy, high-ranking diplomat Li Hui, is expected to arrive in Kyiv for a two-day visit, as part of a European tour to promote Beijing-led peace negotiations on the war in Ukraine.

“He’s expected to meet the FM (foreign minister) and other high-ranking officials,” said a Ukraine government source.

Li’s trip comes three weeks after President Zelensky spoke to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over the phone.

On the front line, fighting has picked up in the eastern Donetsk region, in particular for the battle-scarred city of Bakhmut.

While the defence ministry said Ukrainian air defence systems had knocked out a total of 18 missiles as well as nine drones, Russia claimed all of them had hit targets.

On the other hand, the South African president said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the African Union had been briefed on the peace initiative and they welcomed it.

Ramaphosa said the African initiative had met with “cautious support” in Washington and a number of European capitals visited by “facilitators” tasked with presenting the plan.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2023