South African Leader Pursues Peace Mission with Russia and Ukraine

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have agreed to host an African peace initiative aimed at resolving the nearly 15-month war. The initiative is backed by the leaders of Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt, and South Africa. The African missions’ visit aims to “have a discussion on how this conflict can be brought to an end.” The offer of mediation skills by African countries follows a similar one by China, which has been criticized by Kyiv and its Western allies for implicitly justifying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.