Egypt’s PM arrives in Russia as African peace mission set to meet Putin

CAIRO – 17 June 2023: Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli arrived in Russia on Saturday as part of the African peace initiative that seeks to put an end to the Ukraine crisis, the Egyptian Cabinet said in a statement.

Madbouli, who is leading Egypt’s delegation on behalf of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as part of the African initiative, arrived in St. Petersburg along with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

The African delegation will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin today to explain the elements of the African joint initiative to settle the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the statement said.

The African delegation includes the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Comoros and Zambia, and representatives of Uganda and the Republic of the Congo, in addition to Egypt.

Yesterday, the delegation met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the African peace initiative that aims to implement a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and pave the way for ending the conflict that erupted in February 2022.

In a joint press conference with Zelensky and the African leaders, Madbouli asserted that the Russian-Ukrainian crisis had affected the African continent and its peoples.

The African citizen was affected by the crisis in his daily life as he felt a shortage in fertilizers and grains, especially that Russia and Ukraine’s wheat exports amounting to 23 percent of the whole world’s wheat exports, Madbouli said.

He further noted that African leaders are keen on exerting efforts to stop bloodshed, as well as facing consequences affecting the Russian, Ukrainian and African citizens.

“President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has assigned me to participate in today’s event within Egypt’s strong support to efforts exerted to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian crisis,” Madbouli said.

This comes as the military conflict has killed a number of military men and civilians as well as displacing millions of civilians, the premier added.

Since the beginning of the crisis, Egypt had adopted a stance that supports the UN charter and principles of the international law, he said.

Egypt’s stance aims at ending conflict through reaching a ceasefire and engaging in constructive talks in order to reach just and sustainable settlement that guarantees international peace and security, as well as bringing an end to humanitarian suffering, Madbouli said. 

MENA contributed to the reporting.