African Leaders Request Putin Free Political Prisoners, Visit Zelenskyy in Ukraine

A delegation of seven African leaders paid a visit to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where he requested they ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to free political prisoners from Crimea and beyond. The group arrived as part of a self-proclaimed “peace mission” to help end the Ukraine war.

The leaders will travel to St Petersburg to visit Putin on Saturday. Many African nations rely on food and fertiliser from Russia and Ukraine, so their peace is important for them to receive exports from one of the world's most important breadbaskets.

A ceasefire could follow with negotiations between Russia and the West.