Why Did Putin Interrupt the African Leaders' Discussion?

Russian President Vladimir Putin interrupted the discussion with African leaders on Saturday, who came to mediate a resolution to the Ukrainian conflict, to present a list of reasons he believes undermine the validity of most of their proposals. Putin received leaders from Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, the Republic of the Congo, Comoros, and South Africa at the 18th-century Constantine Palace overlooking the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, where he reaffirmed Russia's commitment to the African continent. However, after presentations by the Comoros, Senegal, and South African leaders, he interjected to challenge the assumptions of their plan before the remaining leaders and representatives continued speaking. Putin reiterated his stance that it was Kyiv and the West who initiated the conflict long before Russia deployed its armed forces across the border into Ukraine in February of last year.