South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola (right) and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha attend a media briefing after political consultations to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries on October 28, 2024 in Pretoria. Minister (left). South Africa. Minister Andriy Sibikha made a six-day tour of four countries in the Middle East and Africa. (Photo by Alet Pretorius/Gallo Images, Getty Images)
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha said on Monday that his country is ready to hold peace talks with Russia but believes that President Vladimir Putin remains committed to the unacceptable demand that Ukraine surrender.
“We are working towards organizing the second World Peace Summit and we are ready to invite the Russian delegation,” Sibiha said at a press conference after talks with South Africa's Ronald Lamola in Pretoria. spoke.
“We need South Africa to be there and add a strong voice.”
Sibiha said Kiev was seeking support from South Africa and the wider international community as it needed to persuade Putin to abandon his insistence that the war could only end with Ukraine's surrender.
“I well remember the first proposal from the Russian side on how to achieve peace. It was not a proposal on how to achieve peace, but an ultimatum. It was a proposal to surrender. So, of course, I did not accept this proposal and logic,” he said.
“From my point of view, they haven't changed the wording of the proposal. They're still demanding an ultimatum. They don't want to recognize our territorial integrity.
“They don't even want to recognize us as an independent state, so they're still talking about surrender. That's not acceptable.”
Therefore, Ukraine needs support and unity in a peace process where its sovereignty and borders are respected, Sibiha said.
“That's why we need like-minded countries behind us. That's why we need support, like-minded countries that respect international law, respect the United Nations Charter and the international principles of war. It requires a joint effort.
“We are ready to invite Russia to the second World Peace Summit if like-minded countries are in a position to do so.”
No date or location has been set for the summit, but Kiev has previously suggested it should be held in November.
World leaders met for two days in a Swiss mountain resort in mid-June to discuss proposals to end the war that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia was not invited to the summit.
At the time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Putin was “not serious about ending the war” but insisted on making concessions to Ukraine, including ceding territory not currently under Russian occupation. He said he is doing so.
South Africa did not sign the joint statement agreed by more than 90 countries supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression.
Lamola said on Monday that South Africa continued to call on both sides to come to the negotiating table.
“They can only meet on the battlefield,” he said.
“We believe that it will be difficult or impossible to find peace without their participation in the platform, and I am pleased to see movement from my colleagues.”
Lamola said President Cyril Ramaphosa made this point when he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
“We continue to insist that all parties to the conflict should be around the table. We believe that all issues, a range of issues of concern to both countries, can be addressed on that platform. ”
It is reliably understood that President Ramaphosa was hoping to secure a promise from President Putin to speak directly to President Zelenskiy when they met in Kazan for the BRIC summit last week.
However, their conversation did not go this far.
A foreign affairs official said Russian officials had contacted the South African delegation to inquire about plans to advance a peace initiative launched by Ramaphosa and six other African leaders last year.
Representatives from seven African countries, including Ramaphosa, met separately with Putin and Zelensky in 2023 to discuss proposals including recognition of national sovereignty and unhindered grain exports to Africa.
President Putin rejected much of the 10-point plan proposed by the African delegation, and Zelenskyy expressed only lukewarm support.
On Monday, Lamola said South Africa still believed these proposals should remain part of a broader peace initiative.
Mr. Sibiha shared with Mr. Lamola Ukraine's formula for how peace talks should unfold, and suggested that South Africa use its upcoming G20 presidency to further efforts towards ending the 30-month war. He said he hopes to do so.
“We would like to thank South Africa for supporting this formula. We are currently finalizing the thematic conferences on each of the 10 points and working towards the second World Peace Summit to which we will invite a representative from Russia. I'm here.
“We hope that South Africa’s G20 Presidency will continue to focus on Ukraine and bring a just peace closer.”
He said Russia's invasion of Ukraine violated international law, upended the world order, caused a food and energy crisis, and affected millions of people far from the front lines.
“Today is the 978th day of Ukraine's resistance to full-scale Russian aggression. Russia continues its attacks and terrorism against civilians, infrastructure, ports, and energy systems.
“This war is not just about Ukraine, it affects millions of people in Africa and other parts of the world. We have a common goal.”
Mr. Lamola and Mr. Sibiha were scheduled to sign an agreement that would exempt Ukrainian diplomatic, official and official passport holders from visa requirements. Although the signing was delayed due to technicalities, Lamola said the document had been agreed and would be signed soon.
