Malawi has joined the calls by the African Union and the International Community for the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine in order to facilitate negotiations towards peace.

According to a statement from His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, Malawi is a nation that recognizes the promotion of peace between all nations.

He said as a nation that has maintained peaceful relations with its neighbors throughout its history, and as a peaceful regional leader in Southern Africa, and as a peacemaking member of the UN Human Rights Council, the cessation of war between Russia and Ukraine has Malawi’s full support.

“The declaration and acts of war by Russia against Ukraine are a disturbing and destabilizing development, since Malawi’s national anthem is a prayer petitioning God for peace over our land, we pray for peace for the people of Russia and Ukraine and their lands,” President Chakwera wrote

He adds that as a country, we also call on the Russian Government to use its might and means to find a peaceful resolution to its grievances against Ukraine.

Meanwhile, it has been reported by International media outlets this morning that the Kyiv government says fighting has broken out on the streets of Ukraine’s capital hours after President Zelensky said Russians would storm the city.

Explosions are reported across Kyiv early Saturday as Russian forces close in on the city as the US, EU, UK, and Canada target Putin with sanctions and Nato is sending more troops to Eastern Europe to reassure allies and deter Russia.