Just Politics

Explosions rock Kyiv as African leaders visit Ukraine

No fewer than two explosions rocked Kyiv on Friday and air raid sirens blared as African leaders began a peace mission, hoping to mediate between Ukraine and Russia.

The African delegation, which includes leaders from South Africa, Senegal, the Comoros and Egypt, was expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and then hold talks Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday.

A Reuters witness in central Kyiv said he heard two explosions. Mayor Vitali Klitschko also reported explosions in the central Podil district, and warned that more missiles were headed towards the capital.

Another Reuters correspondent in the capital saw the smoke trail of two missiles in the air. It was not clear if those missiles were fired by Russia or by Ukrainian air defences.

A Reuters television crew saw the African leaders arriving in Kyiv in a convoy of cars and entering a hotel to use its air-raid shelter.

READ ALSO: Deadly Russian missile strikes hit Ukraine

The leaders had begun their visit with a trip to Bucha, near Kyiv, which is one several places where Ukraine says Russian troops committed large-scale atrocities following their full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia denies the allegations.

The African peace mission, which includes South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Senagal President Macky Sall, could propose a series of “confidence building measures” during initial efforts at mediation, according to a draft framework document obtained.

The document states that the objective of the mission is “to promote the importance of peace and to encourage the parties to agree to a diplomacy-led process of negotiations”.

Those measures could include a Russian troop pull-back, removal of tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, suspension of implementation of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant targeting Putin, and sanctions relief, it indicated.

A cessation of hostilities agreement could follow and would need to be accompanied by negotiations between Russia and the West, the document stated.

The mission is being launched shortly after the start of a Ukrainian counteroffensive that has pushed Russian forces back in some areas though Kyiv has regained only a fraction of the territory Russian forces occupy in Ukraine.

Kyiv says its own peace initiative, which envisages the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian land, must be the basis for any settlement of the war.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Kemi Badenoch becomes first Black woman to lead UK’s Conservative Party

Kemi Badenoch became the new leader of Conservatives and the first Black woman to head…

1 hour ago

Sahara Group Foundation unveils initiative to empower entrepreneurs

The Sahara Group Foundation, the social impact vehicle of energy conglomerate, Sahara Group, has officially…

2 hours ago

EPL: Bournemouth end Man City’s unbeaten run as Liverpool win to go top

Manchester City suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season as they were beaten…

4 hours ago

FG releases funds for payment of NASU’s withheld salary

The Federal Government has released funds for the payment of withheld salary of the Non-Academic…

5 hours ago

91 students bag first class at Bells University convocation

Bells University of Technology in the Ota area of Ogun State has awarded 91 students…

5 hours ago

Arsenal’s Premier League hopes dashed by Newcastle defeat

Newcastle put a huge dent in Arsenal's title aspirations on Saturday, winning 1-0 to give…

6 hours ago

This website uses cookies.