President Cyril Ramaphosa held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday to discuss ongoing peace efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war, reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to supporting diplomatic solutions to end the conflict.
According to presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, Zelensky expressed appreciation for South Africa’s continued support in seeking a peaceful resolution and reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to securing lasting peace with Russia.
“President Ramaphosa welcomed the briefing and pledged South Africa’s ongoing support to peace initiatives that will end the war and loss of lives and destruction to infrastructure,” Magwenya said.
The discussion followed Ramaphosa’s earlier call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday during which Putin reportedly requested to update Ramaphosa on Russia’s peace process with Ukraine.
The back-to-back engagements underscore South Africa’s positioning as a potential mediator despite its neutral stance and criticism for not formally condemning Russia’s invasion.
Ramaphosa has played a central role in coordinating the African peace mission launched in mid-2023, which saw leaders from seven African countries – including Zambia, Senegal and Egypt – visit Kyiv and Moscow in a bid to broker dialogue.
Although the mission did not yield a ceasefire, it was widely viewed as a symbolic assertion of Africa’s diplomatic agency in global conflict resolution.
Magwenya said Ramaphosa and Zelensky also affirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with a focus on advancing economic cooperation and mutual development priorities.
Source:APA News
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