Reuters: African leaders arrive for Ukraine talks with Russia's Putin
(Reuters) - African leaders hoping to mediate in the Ukraine conflict were welcomed to a government palace near St Petersburg on Saturday by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had said after meeting the leaders in Kyiv on Friday that peace talks with Russia would be possible only after Moscow withdrew its forces from occupied Ukrainian territory.
He added that he could not understand what could be gained from the delegation meeting Putin.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in Kyiv that the leaders had come "to share the African perspective" and saw talks with Russia as part of the mission.
The leaders from Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, Congo Republic and the Comoro islands as well as South Africa were meeting Putin at the government's 18th-century Konstantinovsky Palace, on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland.
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WNU Editor: Sorry that the audio is out of sync in the above video, but it gives a good summary on what transpired.
I have visited the Konstantinovsky Palace where these talks are being held. It is an incredibly beautiful place. Check out this aerial picture of the palace and the properties around it (link here).
Update: When these African leaders met Ukraine President Zelensky the meeting was short, formal, and businesslike (link here). Check out the difference in body language when these same leaders met President Putin the next day (see tweet below).
Putin greets African leaders, taps shoulders, laughs … friendly atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/MH9mEOghlF
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 17, 2023
African Leaders In Russia For Ukraine Talks With Russian President Putin
Putin begins talks on Ukraine with African leaders -- TASS
Ukraine: African leaders meet Putin on 'peace mission' -- DW
African Leaders Head to Russia in Latest Bid to End War in Ukraine -- Bloomberg
African leaders arrive at Konstantinovsky Palace for talks with Putin -- TASS