South Africa announces Russia, Ukraine agree to mediation by African leaders in peace initiative

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tuesday that six African leaders plan to visit Russia and Ukraine "as soon as possible" to help find a solution to the dispute between the two countries.

Ramaphosa said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "agreed to receive the mission and African heads of state in Moscow and Kiev."

He said he had "separate phone calls" with Putin and Zelensky over the weekend, during which he presented an initiative drafted by Zambia, Senegal, the Republic of Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa.

"I agreed with both President Putin and President Zelensky to start preparations for dealing with African heads of state," Ramaphosa said.

Speaking at a news conference in Cape Town during a state visit by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, he said: "We hope to have intensive discussions."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the African Union were briefed on the initiative, which they welcomed.

Cyril Ramaphosa did not give a specific timetable for the visit or other details, saying only that the conflict was "devastating" and Africa was "also suffering a lot" from it.

The announcement comes a day after Ramaphosa said South Africa was under "pressure" to take sides in the conflict, following accusations from the US that Pretoria supplied Moscow with weapons – a move that would end its stated neutrality.

South African Defence Minister Thande Mudisi on Tuesday "categorically" denied the accusation in an interview with local newspaper The Mail & Guardian.