A team of African diplomats, undeterred by the threat of Russian missiles, initiated a peace venture in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital city, on Friday.
Ukraine reported an unexpected bombardment of Russian missiles to coincide with the delegates' arrival, resulting in at least two detonations in the city. Mayor Vitali Klitschko attributed these explosions to air defenses, reporting no significant casualties or destruction. However, emergency services noted that four individuals, including a minor, were injured in the surrounding Kyiv area.
The peace delegation consists of representatives from South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, Egypt, and the Comoros. They convened with defense ministry representatives, setting the stage for subsequent discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy scheduled for later on Friday.
These leaders see a potential mediation opportunity amidst a war that's causing significant disruption to African nations' food supplies. This interruption is due to the conflict's impact on grain and other food resources. The team is slated to confer with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Saturday.
"The mission is proceeding well and as planned," reported the South African presidency via Twitter, following the air strike.
The diplomats' goal is to negotiate a set of "confidence-building measures." However, Kyiv has made it clear that its peace proposal must serve as the foundation for any resolution and has initiated a counteroffensive to repel Russian invaders.
Despite this, the Kremlin, which initiated the invasion in February 2022, has downplayed prospects for significant peace discussions with Kyiv. It insists that prerequisites for peace negotiations are absent, but it is willing to entertain external initiatives.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Senegalese President Macky Sall, among other African leaders, kicked off their journey by visiting Bucha, a town on the outskirts of Kyiv. Ukraine alleges that Russian occupiers committed heinous acts including executions, rapes, and torture in Bucha, leading to ongoing international investigations into potential war crimes. Russia refutes these claims.
Kyiv was later subjected to air sirens, prompting the diplomats to seek refuge in a local hotel's air-raid shelter.
Ukraine's air force reported the successful interception of six "Kinzhal" ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles, and two drones. "Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace," stated Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the presidential staff, noted: "Whenever a high-ranking foreign delegation visits Ukraine, Russia greets it with a missile attack on our peaceful cities."
The objective of the African leaders' mission, according to a draft framework document seen by Reuters, is to foster peace and inspire the parties to commit to a diplomatic process. The implications of these measures could significantly reshape the conflict's trajectory.
The war's fallout has significantly affected African nations, exacerbating food price inflation and deepening existing hunger crises. As part of the peace mission, the African leaders could propose an "unconditional grain and fertiliser deal" to alleviate some of these pressures.
