Senegalese President Macky Sall, the current head of the African Union, said he had talked with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to urge a “lasting” ceasefire in Ukraine.

In a tweet, Sall said: “As president of the African Union, I am delighted about my talk this morning with President Putin to press for a lasting ceasefire.

“I commend him for listening and for his willingness to maintain dialogue for a negotiated outcome to the conflict,” he said.

After Russian launched its invasion on February 24, the AU issued a statement calling for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and international law to be upheld.

It also urged Russia and Ukraine to implement an immediate ceasefire and open negotiations under UN auspices.

(AFP)