Ramaphosa Offers SA as Neutral Venue for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Mpho Dube-Editor-in-Chief of The Azanian

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended an offer to host peace talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in South Africa.

This development comes as the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly draws to a close. Ramaphosa made the offer while addressing the media in America, highlighting South Africa's reputation as a successful venue for conflict resolution.

The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in significant human suffering, with an estimated 12,910 civilians killed since the war started in February 2022. Ukraine has been seeking international support for its efforts, while Russia has maintained its stance on addressing the "root causes" of the conflict and ensuring its security interests.

Ramaphosa has been engaging in diplomatic efforts to advance peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. He has held talks with European leaders, including President Zelenskyy, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and President Alexander Stubb of Finland. These discussions have emphasized the need for bilateral and trilateral meetings between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States to accelerate peace commitments.

South Africa has maintained a neutral stance on the conflict, calling for dialogue between both sides. Ramaphosa emphasized that peace talks should begin without preconditions, drawing from South Africa's own experience in negotiating an end to apartheid. Zelenskyy has expressed openness to an unconditional ceasefire, but stressed the need for pressure on Moscow to halt attacks.

By hosting peace talks, South Africa aims to leverage its reputation as a neutral and effective mediator. Ramaphosa believes that the country's environment could facilitate constructive dialogue between the two parties. However, some analysts question whether South Africa's efforts can yield the desired peace outcomes, given the complexity of the conflict and the involvement of other international actors.