Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu met the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, while on a rare visit to the country and this is to mark the anniversary of what North Korea claims as a victory in the North Korean War.

Russian defence minister's Pyongyang visit | Putin to meet African leaders | WION Speed News

During a meeting with African leaders at the historic Konstantinovsky Palace, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his appreciation for their balanced approach to the conflict in Ukraine and emphasised Russia's openness to engage in constructive dialogue and discussions on Ukraine conflict.&nbsp;

“We are open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want peace based on the principles of justice and consideration of the legitimate interests of the parties,” Putin said, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>Meeting with African leaders</h2>

The African&nbsp;leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, Congo Republic, and the Comoro Islands were in the meeting. These leaders had previously visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and met Volodymyr Zelensky, before their meeting with President Putin.

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa presented his stance before Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasising the urgent need for the conflict in Ukraine to come to an end.&nbsp;

He stressed that the war should be resolved through negotiations and diplomatic means. President Ramaphosa highlighted the negative impact of the ongoing conflict not only on the African continent but also on numerous countries worldwide.

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"This war has to have an end... It must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means. This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed on many other countries around the world," he said as per reports.&nbsp;

<h2>Significance for Africa's food supply</h2>

The peace mission undertaken by African leaders holds significant importance for Africa, as the region heavily relies on food and fertilizer deliveries from both Russia and Ukraine.&nbsp;

Watch | China targets ‘unity in thought’ with campaign on Xi’s philosophy

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The war has caused disruptions to exports from one of the world's key sources of agricultural produce, affecting food security and supply chains.

<h2>African leaders advocate for peace&nbsp;</h2>

African leaders, including Senegalese President Macky Sall, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, and Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently heads the African Union, expressed their desire for peace between Russia and Ukraine.&nbsp;

They firmly believed that dialogue and negotiations were the key to achieving a peaceful resolution.

<h2>Diplomatic efforts in Kyiv</h2>

The African delegation embarked on a diplomatic mission to Kyiv, where they called for peace and expressed their concerns over the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Africa. Rising grain prices had adversely affected the continent, prompting the leaders to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

"There should be peace through negotiations," Ramaphosa told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;

Ramaphosa cited Nelson Mandela multiple times during a news conference held after talks with Ukrainian President.&nbsp;

"To allow any negotiations with Russia now that the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war, to freeze pain and suffering," Zelensky said.&nbsp;

During their visit to Kyiv, the African leaders faced a tense situation as air raid sirens sounded across the city, indicating the detection of incoming Russian missiles. The delegation had to take shelter during this alarming situation.

<h2>Ukrainian air force response</h2>

The Ukrainian Air Force swiftly responded to the missile threat and successfully shot down 12 missiles, including six hypersonic ones. Although there were no reports of damage within the city, seven people, including two children, were wounded according to regional police, as per media reports.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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During a meeting with African leaders at the historic Konstantinovsky Palace, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his appreciation for their balanced approach to the conflict in Ukraine and emphasised Russia's openness to engage in constructive dialogue and discussions on Ukraine conflict.

During a meeting with African leaders at the historic Konstantinovsky Palace, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his appreciation for their balanced approach to the conflict in Ukraine and emphasised Russia's openness to engage in constructive dialogue and discussions on Ukraine conflict. “We are open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want peace based on the principles of justice and consideration of the legitimate interests of the parties,” Putin said, reported Reuters. Meeting with African leaders The African leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, Congo Republic, and the Comoro Islands were in the meeting. These leaders had previously visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and met Volodymyr Zelensky, before their meeting with President Putin. Also Read | Stoltenberg expected to be asked to extend another term as NATO Chief amid replacement challenges South African President Cyril Ramaphosa presented his stance before Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasising the urgent need for the conflict in Ukraine to come to an end. He stressed that the war should be resolved through negotiations and diplomatic means. President Ramaphosa highlighted the negative impact of the ongoing conflict not only on the African continent but also on numerous countries worldwide. Also Read | Shehbaz Sharif calls on Nawaz Sharif to become Pakistan PM again, lead election campaign "This war has to have an end... It must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means. This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed on many other countries around the world," he said as per reports. Significance for Africa's food supply The peace mission undertaken by African leaders holds significant importance for Africa, as the region heavily relies on food and fertilizer deliveries from both Russia and Ukraine. Watch | China targets ‘unity in thought’ with campaign on Xi’s philosophy × The war has caused disruptions to exports from one of the world's key sources of agricultural produce, affecting food security and supply chains. African leaders advocate for peace African leaders, including Senegalese President Macky Sall, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, and Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently heads the African Union, expressed their desire for peace between Russia and Ukraine. They firmly believed that dialogue and negotiations were the key to achieving a peaceful resolution. Diplomatic efforts in Kyiv The African delegation embarked on a diplomatic mission to Kyiv, where they called for peace and expressed their concerns over the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Africa. Rising grain prices had adversely affected the continent, prompting the leaders to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. "There should be peace through negotiations," Ramaphosa told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ramaphosa cited Nelson Mandela multiple times during a news conference held after talks with Ukrainian President. "To allow any negotiations with Russia now that the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war, to freeze pain and suffering," Zelensky said. During their visit to Kyiv, the African leaders faced a tense situation as air raid sirens sounded across the city, indicating the detection of incoming Russian missiles. The delegation had to take shelter during this alarming situation. Ukrainian air force response The Ukrainian Air Force swiftly responded to the missile threat and successfully shot down 12 missiles, including six hypersonic ones. Although there were no reports of damage within the city, seven people, including two children, were wounded according to regional police, as per media reports. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'Open for dialogue on Ukraine', Putin tells African leaders, welcomes their balanced approach on conflict

9 African leaders attended an opening session of the UN COP15 talks on Monday. The talks focused on desertification and land degradation, these two climate issues have devastated large parts of the African continent

UN COP15 talks in West Africa's Abidjan: Leaders discuss land degradation

African Leaders Launch Free-Trade Zone, $3.4 Trillion economic bloc to be created.

WION Wallet: African Leaders Launch Free-Trade Zone

African leaders will meet Sunday in Niger for the African Union (AU) summit, to sign a landmark free trade agreement, and to discuss looming security and migration crises on the continent.

In a "historic" moment for the 55-member bloc, according to its chairman Moussa Faki, heads of state will officially launch the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the two-day summit in Niamey, the Nigerien capital.

The agreement comes after 17 years of tough negotiations, and was formalised at the end of April when the agreement had crossed the launch threshold, which required ratification by at least 22 countries.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and largest economy, announced this week it would, after all, join the pact in Niamey, having unexpectedly pulled back from the agreement last year.

Nigeria's chief trade negotiator, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, said President Muhammadu Buhari would sign the landmark agreement, "opening Africa up to abundant opportunities.

"We weren't dragged into this, we are a leading advocate," Osakwe told AFP. "But it is about assessing how to make it work for Nigeria and indeed the continent."

State trade ministers agreed the zone should be operational from July 2020, AU Trade and Industry Commissioner Albert Muchanga told AFP, as countries needed time to adapt to the agreed changes.

An official start date will be agreed by heads of state Sunday -- with only Benin and Eritrea still to sign the agreement.

There are still key issues that need to be ironed out however, such as setting common criteria to determine rules of origin for traded products.

Amaka Anku, Africa analyst at Eurasia group, described the deal as a positive step but said the AfCFTA was still "a long way from taking off".

The AU estimates that implementing the AfCFTA will lead to a 60-per cent boost in intra-African trade by 2022.&nbsp;

At the moment, African countries trade only about 16 per cent of their goods and services among one another, compared to 65 per cent with European countries.

High security

Also on the summit agenda is security -- an issue afflicting the Sahel in particular.

Summit host Niger has faced constant attacks by jihadist groups.

Its fellow members in the G5-Sahel security pact -- Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania -- will seek backing at the AU summit to push for a greater UN security force to address the terror threat.&nbsp;

The countries hope to activate Chapter VII of the UN Charter, a Nigerien security source told AFP. The chapter allows for the UN Security Council to determine a threat to peace and propose measures, including military deployment, to deal with it.

"No prosperity, no integration is possible without peace," said Faki, who stressed the importance of an AU Peace Fund launched in 2018 to finance security activities and called on member states to fulfil their financial promises.

So far, only $116 million has been received for the envisaged $400-million fund.

Niamey is under high surveillance, with summit facilities subjected to strict access controls and a heavy security presence.&nbsp;

"We have a special unit of several thousand men" on duty, said Defence Minister Mohamed Bazoum.

The city has been revamped and boasts a brand-new airport, upgraded roads, and new hotels for the occasion.&nbsp;

Migration crisis

The leaders will also discuss boosting intelligence cooperation and the global migration crisis.

An airstrike Tuesday on a migrant detention centre near the Libyan capital, Tripoli, killed 53 and injured more than 130.

The AU's Peace and Security Council on Friday condemned what it called a "savage attack", calling for an independent inquiry into the incident.

AU member states needed to quickly repatriate their nationals from Libya "in order to prevent any further exploitation of their fragile situation," they said in a statement.

African leaders will meet Sunday in Niger for the African Union (AU) summit, to sign a landmark free trade agreement, and to discuss looming security and migration crises on the continent.

African leaders will meet Sunday in Niger for the African Union (AU) summit, to sign a landmark free trade agreement, and to discuss looming security and migration crises on the continent. In a "historic" moment for the 55-member bloc, according to its chairman Moussa Faki, heads of state will officially launch the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the two-day summit in Niamey, the Nigerien capital. The agreement comes after 17 years of tough negotiations, and was formalised at the end of April when the agreement had crossed the launch threshold, which required ratification by at least 22 countries. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and largest economy, announced this week it would, after all, join the pact in Niamey, having unexpectedly pulled back from the agreement last year. Nigeria's chief trade negotiator, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, said President Muhammadu Buhari would sign the landmark agreement, "opening Africa up to abundant opportunities. "We weren't dragged into this, we are a leading advocate," Osakwe told AFP. "But it is about assessing how to make it work for Nigeria and indeed the continent." State trade ministers agreed the zone should be operational from July 2020, AU Trade and Industry Commissioner Albert Muchanga told AFP, as countries needed time to adapt to the agreed changes. An official start date will be agreed by heads of state Sunday -- with only Benin and Eritrea still to sign the agreement. There are still key issues that need to be ironed out however, such as setting common criteria to determine rules of origin for traded products. Amaka Anku, Africa analyst at Eurasia group, described the deal as a positive step but said the AfCFTA was still "a long way from taking off". The AU estimates that implementing the AfCFTA will lead to a 60-per cent boost in intra-African trade by 2022. At the moment, African countries trade only about 16 per cent of their goods and services among one another, compared to 65 per cent with European countries. High security Also on the summit agenda is security -- an issue afflicting the Sahel in particular. Summit host Niger has faced constant attacks by jihadist groups. Its fellow members in the G5-Sahel security pact -- Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania -- will seek backing at the AU summit to push for a greater UN security force to address the terror threat. The countries hope to activate Chapter VII of the UN Charter, a Nigerien security source told AFP. The chapter allows for the UN Security Council to determine a threat to peace and propose measures, including military deployment, to deal with it. "No prosperity, no integration is possible without peace," said Faki, who stressed the importance of an AU Peace Fund launched in 2018 to finance security activities and called on member states to fulfil their financial promises. So far, only $116 million has been received for the envisaged $400-million fund. Niamey is under high surveillance, with summit facilities subjected to strict access controls and a heavy security presence. "We have a special unit of several thousand men" on duty, said Defence Minister Mohamed Bazoum. The city has been revamped and boasts a brand-new airport, upgraded roads, and new hotels for the occasion. Migration crisis The leaders will also discuss boosting intelligence cooperation and the global migration crisis. An airstrike Tuesday on a migrant detention centre near the Libyan capital, Tripoli, killed 53 and injured more than 130. The AU's Peace and Security Council on Friday condemned what it called a "savage attack", calling for an independent inquiry into the incident. AU member states needed to quickly repatriate their nationals from Libya "in order to prevent any further exploitation of their fragile situation," they said in a statement.

African leaders set to sign landmark trade deal at AU Summit

African leaders say they have decided to refrain from issuing a resolution to criticise Donald Trump&#39;s alleged reference to their nations as &quot;shithole countries&quot; because the US president sent them a letter expressing respect for the continent.

The leaders who met at an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital were initially set to demand an apology from Trump over the remark reported by sources at a meeting on immigration with him this month.

Trump denies making the comment.

Reports of the comment touched a nerve because they come on top of decisions by the Trump administration, particularly on visa restrictions, that many Africans say unfairly penalize the continent.&nbsp;

As the summit was being held at ministerial level, the gathering drafted a resolution calling on Trump to &quot;publicly apologise to all Africans&quot;.

Anything short of that would force them to suspend a cooperation deal signed between Washington and the bloc, said the draft seen by Reuters.

African leaders are &quot;dismayed and shocked by the increasingly consistent trend by the Trump Administration to denigrate of African descent ... thereby promoting racism, xenophobia and bigotry,&quot; it said.

But a Jan. 25 letter sent by Trump prompted a change of tack at the presidential level.

One summit official said the final resolution that is yet to be released contains no reference to the issue after the leaders concluded the meeting late on Monday.

&quot;I want to underscore that the United States deeply respects the people of Africa and my commitment to strong and respectful relationships with African states as sovereign states is firm,&quot; Trump said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would &quot;travel to Africa for an extended visit,&quot; he said.

The AU Commission had &quot;taken due note&quot; of the letter, which wished the summit success, Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said during the closing press conference.

Rwanda&#39;s President Paul Kagame, who met Trump last week on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said Trump&#39;s reported comment had no impact on the AU summit.

&quot;When the United States decided to give us Trump as their president we deal with that president of the United States. It is not an issue of whether you appreciate him for this or for that, it is a job that he is doing for his country,&quot; added Kagame, who assumed the African Union&#39;s chairmanship this year.

He said both he and Trump had stressed the need for more cooperation.&nbsp;

African leaders say they have decided, after the letter, to refrain from issuing a resolution criticising Trump

African leaders say they have decided to refrain from issuing a resolution to criticise Donald Trump's alleged reference to their nations as "shithole countries" because the US president sent them a letter expressing respect for the continent. The leaders who met at an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital were initially set to demand an apology from Trump over the remark reported by sources at a meeting on immigration with him this month. Trump denies making the comment. Reports of the comment touched a nerve because they come on top of decisions by the Trump administration, particularly on visa restrictions, that many Africans say unfairly penalize the continent. As the summit was being held at ministerial level, the gathering drafted a resolution calling on Trump to "publicly apologise to all Africans". Anything short of that would force them to suspend a cooperation deal signed between Washington and the bloc, said the draft seen by Reuters. African leaders are "dismayed and shocked by the increasingly consistent trend by the Trump Administration to denigrate of African descent ... thereby promoting racism, xenophobia and bigotry," it said. But a Jan. 25 letter sent by Trump prompted a change of tack at the presidential level. One summit official said the final resolution that is yet to be released contains no reference to the issue after the leaders concluded the meeting late on Monday. "I want to underscore that the United States deeply respects the people of Africa and my commitment to strong and respectful relationships with African states as sovereign states is firm," Trump said. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would "travel to Africa for an extended visit," he said. The AU Commission had "taken due note" of the letter, which wished the summit success, Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said during the closing press conference. Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, who met Trump last week on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said Trump's reported comment had no impact on the AU summit. "When the United States decided to give us Trump as their president we deal with that president of the United States. It is not an issue of whether you appreciate him for this or for that, it is a job that he is doing for his country," added Kagame, who assumed the African Union's chairmanship this year. He said both he and Trump had stressed the need for more cooperation.

'Shithole' countries: Trump writes letter saying he respects Africa

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