African leaders to discuss peace plan with Putin after Ukraine trip

The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives – such as one by China – and carried particular importance for Africa, which relies on food and fertiliser deliveries from Russia and Ukraine.

African leaders meet Mr Zelenskyy (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is to host a group of African leaders who travelled to Russia on a self-styled “peace mission” after their trip to Ukraine.

Seven African leaders – the presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypt’s prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda – visited Ukraine on Friday to try to help end the near 16-month-old war.