Rabat – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that there will be no peace talks with Russia unless they withdraw their forces from Ukrainian territory, after meeting African leaders who are visiting the country on a peace mission.
Zelenskiy also added that he does not understand the African peace mission’s decision to also meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
“This is their decision, how logical it is, I don’t really understand,” Reuters quoted the president as saying.
The comments signal no change in Ukraine’s stance regarding peace talks.
“To allow any negotiations with Russia now while the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war, to freeze everything: pain and suffering,” Zelenskiy said during a press conference with the African delegation.
“We need real peace, and therefore, a real withdrawal of Russian troops from our entire independent land,” he added.
Ukraine’s own peace initiative is based on a complete Russian withdrawal.
The African delegation included leaders from Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, South Africa, and the Comoros. They arrived in Kyiv on Friday, greeted by Russian missiles being launched in Kyiv.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the delegation saw talks with Russia as a part of the mission to “share the African perspective.”
Africa has been severely affected by the war, as it has impacted global supply chains and trade prices for essential goods such as grains or fertilizers.
African countries have mostly remained neutral on the conflict, and although some still have cordial relations with Russia, most have closer links to the US and Europe.
