The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday made a fresh request to address African Union (AU) heads of State, according to the Commission’s Chairperson Moussa Faki.
In a tweet which was sighted by Africa Today News, New York on Friday, Mr Faki disclosed that he received the request during a call with Ukraine’s foreign minister.
The pair also held discussions about President Zelensky’s ‘wish to develop closer ties with the AU’.
Mr Faki didn’t disclose whether the request would be granted but tweeted that he had ‘insisted on the need for a peaceful solution to the conflict with Russia’.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that arlier this month, President Zelensky held a call with his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall, the current AU chairman, and asked to address African leaders.
Read Also: Zelensky Calls For Humanitarian No-Fly-Zone To Stop Russia
African countries formed a large chunk of countries on the list of nations that abstained from voting on a UN resolution to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council.
The resolution passed with 93 votes in favour, 24 against and 58 abstentions.
Zelensky of Ukraine has again reached out to the African Union (AU) for support in his nation’s war with Russia, calling his Senegalese counterpart, Macky Sall, on Monday to discuss the crisis.
Zelensky said he provided an update to Sall, the current president of the AU, on the Ukrainian struggle against the Russian invasion ‘and the terrible crimes of the aggressor.’
Sall acknowledged the call in his own social media message, noting that Zelensky, who has made numerous appeals to global leaders and legislatures, also wants the opportunity to address the AU.
Their conversation touched on an AU statement issued on February 24. It called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations ‘in order to preserve the world from the consequences of planetary conflict, and in the interests of peace and stability in international relations in service of all the peoples of the world.’
Africa Today News, New York reports that the previous AU statement recognised the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Ukraine, as have a number of African leaders speaking at the United Nations Security Council or in other settings.
Africa Today News, New York