Cape Town – The national legislatures of South Africa and the United Arab Emirates have offered to host the parliaments of Ukraine and Russia in an effort to find potential areas of agreement amidst the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
This announcement was made by Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula while tabling a report of the IPU Task Force for Peaceful Resolution of the war in Ukraine at the 146th General Assembly of the IPU held in Manama, Bahrain.
MPs focused on promoting peaceful coexistence, inclusive societies, and combating intolerance.
Mapisa-Nqakula noted that the parliaments of Ukraine and Russia welcomed the work of the task force.
“She said hopes remain high that the two-nations parliamentary leadership would agree to an in-person, same-table meeting to pursue a negotiated settlement and an end to the war in Ukraine, with the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of South Africa being ready to play host to such a crucial meeting between Russian and Ukrainian Parliaments,” a statement said.
The IPU Task Force for the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine engaged with high-level delegations from Russia and Ukraine separately, aiming to maintain diplomatic channels for future peacebuilding.
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The next steps involve discussing avenues to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of the war, engaging with other parties to facilitate positive change, and convening both delegations in a suitable venue for further discussions.
According to News24, the South African government has been considering alternative hosting options to avoid complying with an International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This development follows allegations that South Africa supplied weapons to Russia, which prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to initiate an independent investigation into the matter.
Recently, a peace mission led by six African heads of state visited Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, urging an end to the conflict.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
