The African Union (AU) has called on the two contending parties, Russia and Ukraine, to cease fire and begin negotiations "without delay." The pan-African organization issued the statement against the backdrop of Russian advances in Ukraine.
The statement, available on its official website, says: "The current Chair of the African Union and President of Senegal, President Macky Sall, and the Chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, express their grave concern about the very serious and dangerous situation in Ukraine."
The panel added that they "call on the Russian Federation and any other regional or international actors to respect international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Ukraine at all costs."
"The Chair of the African Union and the Chair of the African Union Commission call on the two parties to immediately conclude a ceasefire and immediately begin political negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations."
This, the AU said, will "save the world from the consequences of a planetary conflict." According to the statement, the call is also in the interest of peace and stability in international relations in the service of all the peoples of the world.