WASHINGTON. June 29 (Interfax) - United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed efforts being made by African countries to settle the Ukraine conflict with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor in a phone call, the U.S. Department of State said.
"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor regarding the recent visit to Ukraine and Russia by a seven-nation delegation of African leaders. Secretary Blinken welcomed the delegation's efforts," Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press release.
During the conversation, Blinken "emphasized the strength of the U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
A delegation of African leaders visited Kiev on June 16, where they talked with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Afterwards, the African delegation traveled to Russia, where Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed problems of the Ukraine crisis with them at the Constantine Palace in Strelna outside of St. Petersburg. The meeting lasted for nearly three hours.
Earlier this week, Pandor described the trips to Ukraine and Russia as a preparatory stage and said the Ukrainian and Russian leaders agreed to have more meetings with the African delegation within the following weeks.