By Johnathan Paoli
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed appreciation for the high-level telephone discussion he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin to address both the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict and the future of strategic ties between South Africa and the Russian Federation.
The call was initiated at Putin’s request to brief Ramaphosa on recent developments in peace efforts and to explore matters of mutual bilateral interest.
“President Putin expressed his recognition and appreciation for South Africa’s involvement in advancing a peace process between Russia and Ukraine. President Ramaphosa welcomed the briefing and expressed South Africa’s full support to peace initiatives that will end the war and contribute to a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine,” the Presidency stated.
The Russian leader highlighted Pretoria’s continued engagement through multilateral forums and its participation in the African Peace Initiative, a diplomatic effort launched in 2023 that brought African leaders to both Ukraine and Russia to advocate for humanitarian corridors, prisoner exchanges and the de-escalation of hostilities.
There have been ongoing efforts to address not only the cessation of hostilities but also broader issues of food security and energy stability, both of which have been disrupted by the war and carry major implications for African economies.
South Africa has consistently taken a non-aligned stance in the conflict, advocating for multilateralism and adherence to the UN Charter while avoiding alignment with Western sanctions regimes.
Beyond the Ukraine peace process, the two presidents also discussed the trajectory of South Africa–Russia relations.
The Presidency confirmed that Ramaphosa and Putin “agreed to further their discussions on moving forward the strategic relationship between their two countries”.
The partnership has historical roots in Moscow’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle, and today spans cooperation in trade, defence, education, science and nuclear energy.
Both nations are active members of BRICS where they have jointly called for reform of global governance institutions and greater representation for developing economies in decision-making bodies.
For Russia, strengthening South–South relations is seen as a way to mitigate Western isolation, while South Africa benefits from alternative markets and technology-sharing opportunities.
The call comes just months after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited South Africa in April, the first such trip by a Ukrainian head of state to the continent.
That visit was partially cut short following a deadly Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv, yet Zelensky vowed to maintain close contact with Pretoria, particularly as South Africa holds the G20 presidency this year.
Pretoria has indicated that it views its position at the helm of the G20 as an opportunity to amplify the perspectives of the Global South in addressing global security and development challenges.
The Presidency confirmed that Ramaphosa and Putin will maintain direct contact as the situation develops.
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