South Africa has expressed its readiness to host peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Last month, Pretoria announced that a mediation effort would be led by six African leaders who will visit Kyiv and Moscow.

Speaking at a press conference in Pretoria, Minister to the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated, “We must be open to the possibility of South Africa hosting the peace summit here.” The mediation mission, scheduled to commence in the coming weeks, aims to find a peaceful solution to the war. The delegation includes heads of state from Congo-Brazzaville, Egypt, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office released a statement confirming that he had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who welcomed the initiative of the African heads of state.

In the previous month, both President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had given their consent to receive the African peace mission, as indicated by President Ramaphosa.

South Africa, maintaining a stance of neutrality and advocating for dialogue, has faced criticism on the international stage for its perceived closeness to Moscow. However, the country has refrained from condemning Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, citing its commitment to remaining neutral.

Pretoria’s historical ties with the Kremlin, rooted in the days of the apartheid struggle, have contributed to its approach in the current situation.

The escalation of cereal prices and the repercussions of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on global trade have had a significant impact on Africa.