Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Ramaphosa Discusses Impact Of War With Polish President

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, on Thursday discussed the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Poland.

President Ramaphosa landed in Poland on Thursday afternoon ahead of the African Peace Mission, where the former along with six other African heads will be visiting Ukraine and Russia to seek peace. This mission was announced earlier this month.

During his courtesy visit to Poland, Ramaphosa noted that the country has been impacted due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as Poland shares borders with both countries, SA News reported.

According to multiple reports, Poland's economic growth has slowed down this year. Several businesses, including manufacturing, construction, wholesale trade, retail trade, storage, transportation, food services, and accommodation, have been negatively impacted.

Poland has served as a home and transit route for millions of people migrating from Ukraine amid ongoing conflict. According to a report, more than 9.4 million Ukraine citizens have crossed the Poland-Ukraine border.

Following his quick visit to Poland, Ramaphosa left for Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. He will be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Saturday, and is expected to return to South Africa on Sunday.

President Ramaphosa was accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, and the President's Special Envoy, Dr Bejani Chauke.

Regarding his Russia and Ukraine visit, the president had said, "We are pleased and encouraged by the openness with which the two Presidents have undertaken to engage with African leaders on this matter."

"From our own experience, it is at times of escalated conflict that a search for peace must be equally accelerated. This peace initiative should be seen as complementing other peace initiatives that other parties have put forward. The strength of this mission is that African leaders will be engaging with both parties."

Ramaphosa shared the importance of the African Peace Mission, and said, "[It] brings an African perspective and an appeal for a peace process to deliberations underway in various parts of the world and within different nations on how to address the conflict in Ukraine and Russia," SA News reported.

Considering the African Peace Mission, the panel consists of Ramaphosa alongside the president of the Comoros Islands and current head of the African Union, Azali Assoumani; the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi; the president of Senegal, Macky Sall; the president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni; and the president of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema.

Russia and Ukraine conflict has so far killed more than 62,000 people, and injured more than 60,000 people, while at least 15,000 people have been reported missing.

Countries like South Africa and China have taken a neutral stance on the war while Poland, the United States, and the United Kingdom have supported Ukraine.