Africa talks about what matters, Kiev "decodes" explosions, when does Moscow use nuclear weapons?

On June 16, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate the conflict.

(04.20) Thành phố Bakhmut tiếp tục là điểm nóng chiến lược trong xung đột Nga-Ukraine. (Nguồn: Reuters)

Bakhmut city, Ukraine. (Source: Reuters)

Speaking to reporters after talks between African leaders and host President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr. Ramaphosa said: "This military campaign must be resolved and there should be peace through negotiations. We believe there must be de-escalation on both sides."

Meanwhile, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said it was important for the African continent to contribute to peace in Ukraine.

For his part, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the African Union (AU), said that a peace treaty in Ukraine needs to be implemented through the United Nations Charter.

The leaders of the above mentioned African countries are visiting Kiev as part of a peace-brokering mission between Russia and Ukraine.

* Meanwhile, Ukraine said that the series of attacks in the center of the capital Kiev on the same day (June 16) was a "message" sent to African leaders who are carrying out a peace mission in Ukraine.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘built confidence’ by launching the largest missile attack on Kiev in weeks, precisely during the visit of African leaders to our capital,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement.

Earlier, witnesses heard several explosions in the center of the capital Kiev. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned that many missiles were aimed at the city.

* Also on June 16, speaking at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has a "negative" view on the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons.

Mr. Putin reiterated that Russia can use nuclear weapons in case of threats to its territorial integrity, independence, sovereignty and existence.

“Nuclear weapons were created to ensure our security in the broadest sense of the word, the existence of the Russian state. But first of all, we have no such need,” the Russian leader explained.

The Russian president also said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is being drawn into the conflict in Ukraine.

In addition, according to President Putin, Ukraine's drone attacks on the Kremlin and attacks in the border province of Belgorod (Russia) were efforts to provoke a strong response from Russia.

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