大象传媒

A delegation of African leaders is visiting Kyiv in an effort to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.

The group includes heads of state from South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville, Comoros, Zambia, and Uganda.

They are expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky before travelling to St Petersburg to meet President Vladimir Putin.

African leaders say their continent is feeling the adverse economic impact of the conflict in Ukraine. However, Thembisa Fakude, who is a senior research fellow at the think-tank Africa Asia Dialogues (Afrasid) told Newsday that there is 鈥渟uspicion鈥� around the trip: 鈥淭here鈥檚 a thesis in South Africa that perhaps this grouping of individuals are actually in front of Vladimir Putin who鈥檚 trying to save face but wants to start鈥�negotiations because he鈥檚 not achieving much in Ukraine.鈥�

(Picture: Shows the African delegation heading to Kyiv by train from Poland. Credit: 大象传媒.)