President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Saturday, as part of a delegation of African leaders. This comes in the wake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruling out talks with Russia and urging the visiting delegation to condemn Moscow’s aggression.
Zelensky warmly received the African delegation in Ukraine on Friday, emphasizing his country’s own peace initiative that calls for a complete Russian withdrawal. He also extended an invitation to the African leaders to participate in an international peace summit that is being organized.
While Zelensky advocated for diplomatic isolation to showcase Russia’s aggression to the world, he seemed unconvinced about the potential gains from meeting with Putin. He believed that isolating Putin and his supporters could have a significant impact on Russian society and help curb the aggression.
On the other hand, Ramaphosa maintained a more diplomatic stance and avoided directly addressing the possibility of arresting Putin if he attends the upcoming Brics bloc summit. It should be noted that Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. Ramaphosa emphasized his role as the one to announce the details of the BRICS summit, indicating the importance of listening to Putin and engaging in discussions regarding the key elements of the peace mission.
Meanwhile, South Africa has faced increasing scrutiny for its non-aligned stance in the war and allegations of supplying weapons and ammunition to Moscow. These accusations have further complicated South Africa’s position and raised questions about its involvement in the conflict.