Putin Shows March 2022 Draft Peace Agreement for First Time Ever to African Delegation

June 18, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—Meeting yesterday in St. Petersburg with the peace delegation of four African Presidents, the Prime Minister of Egypt and two Presidents’ representatives, Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time publicly showed the documents of the draft peace agreement which was negotiated in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine in March 2022, and signed by both sides at that time.

Later, it became widely known that through then-U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s early April 2022 sudden visit to Kiev and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO leaders insisted that Ukraine drop the peace agreement and resume the war, with promises of total NATO backing in weaponry, intelligence, training and money. One of Ukraine’s negotiators was then assassinated to punctuate the shift.

Putin pointed out that the Russian side has never rejected negotiations with Ukraine; and that Ukrainian authorities preliminarily signed that draft agreement with Moscow which was prepared following negotiations in Istanbul. He said that Russian forces then began to withdraw, but Kiev disregarded the document. The Russian President presented the document, which includes 18 articles and appendixes, to the African leaders. It included clauses on neutrality and guarantees of security. Imagery of the documents is on the Bellum Acta Telegram channel) (and reprinted by Intel SlavaZ Telegram channel). This was the first time that these documents have been seen publicly.

“It also touches upon armed forces and other things. It was all written down—up to numbers of vehicles and personnel,” Putin disclosed.

The African peace delegation included President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema; Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Comoros Azali Assoumani; President of the Republic of Senegal Macky Sall; President of the South Africa Republic Cyril Ramaphosa; Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt Mostafa Mabdouli; Minister of State and Director of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of the Congo Florent Ntsiba; and Special Envoy of the President of Uganda for Special Duties Ruhakana Rugunda. In addition to Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov were also in attendance on the Russian side.

“We have also come to listen to you and, through you, to the opinion of the Russian people. We also want to encourage you to begin talks with Ukraine in order to put an end to this ordeal,” Assoumani said.

“We have embarked on this mission because unfortunately, as Africans, we have witnessed many conflicts. And we can resolve these issues only through dialogue and talks. We would like to share our experience with you to find a positive outcome, a positive way out of this crisis. Our brother President Ramaphosa made a proposal hoping he will be able to convince the two countries, Russia and Ukraine, to opt for dialogue.”

TASS reported that Ramaphosa said the time has come to end the conflict in Ukraine. Noting that Africa would like to become a mediator in the search for peace, he presented the African peace plan, which focuses on the 10 main points for its achievement. The plan calls to listen to the positions of both countries; to begin the de-escalation on both sides; to ensure the sovereignty of states and peoples in accordance with the UN Charter; to achieve guarantees of security for all countries; to ensure transportation of both countries’ grain and fertilizer; humanitarian support to people affected by the war; settlement of the issue of exchange of prisoners and repatriation of children; post-war reconstruction and aid to the people affected by the war; closer cooperation with African states.

The remarks of Presidents Assoumani and Ramaphosa are posted to the Kremlin’s English news site, while the full meeting is in the process of being translated.