Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying it was “difficult to achieve”.
Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin had shown interest in the ten-point plan presented by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and that Russia would continue dialogue with African countries.
Lavrov added that African leaders did not convey any message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Putin.
On Saturday, President Putin gave African leaders who came to negotiate a solution to the Ukraine conflict a list of reasons why he believed most of their proposals were unfounded.
Putin reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to the African continent at the start of talks on Saturday with representatives from Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, Republic of Congo, Comoros and South Africa at the Palace of Constantine.
But after presentations by the leaders of Comoros, Senegal and South Africa, he stepped in to challenge the assumptions of their plan before the rest of the countries’ leaders and representatives continued their speeches.
Putin pointed out that the conflict was sparked by Kyiv and the West long before Russia sent its armed forces across the border to Ukraine in February last year.
Here are Putin’s most striking statements to African leaders:
The West, not Russia, is responsible for the sharp rise in global food prices early last year, with African countries hardest hit. Ukraine’s grain exports from Black Sea ports that Russia has allowed over the past year have done nothing to alleviate the difficulties Africa faces as food prices soar, because most of it went to rich countries. Russia has never refused to discuss with the Ukrainian side, and it is Kyiv that prevents it. Moscow is open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want a peace based on the principles of justice and the recognition of the legitimate interests of both parties.
Russia has repeatedly said that any settlement must take into account “new realities”, i.e. its declaration of annexation of five Ukrainian regions, four of which it partially administers.
African leaders had sought to agree a series of “confidence-building measures” even as Ukraine last week launched a counter-offensive to drive Russian forces out of territory it had seized.
And the Ukrainian president had previously said after his meeting with African leaders in Kiev on Friday that peace talks with Russia “will only be possible after Moscow withdraws its forces from occupied Ukrainian lands”, which Russia says , cannot be negotiated.
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