Zimbabwe calls for end to Russia-Ukraine war

ZIMBABWE yesterday called for dialogue to end the Russia-Ukraine war which began on February 24.

The country called for dialogue during the ongoing Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Bali, Indonesia which began on March 18 and ends tomorrow.

"It is Zimbabwe's considered view that an earnest and constructive dialogue is the only viable solution to the deepening crisis in Ukraine," MP Tsitsi Muzenda said during the debate on the emergency item entitled Peaceful Resolution of the War in Ukraine, Respecting International Law, the Charter of the United Nations and Territorial Integrity.

"To this end, the United Nations Security Council has a duty to work without bias or undue influence for an end to the current conflict."

The West and its allies have imposed wide-ranging sanctions against Russia which has continued with its bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

A number of African countries, Zimbabwe included, stayed away from a UN vote condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"After cessation of hostilities, the UN must facilitate the deployment of a credible monitoring team to secure unhindered access to post-war recovery and humanitarian operations," Muzenda said.

"Guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence, the UN and its humanitarian partners should constantly review and scale up the delivery of life-saving support to refugees and internally displaced people in Ukraine.

"Diplomacy through dialogue can only succeed where there is a mutual realisation that States have a duty to exercise their sovereignty in a spirit of co-existence and without inadvertently unduly raising existential security concerns of other sovereign States."