By Akani Nkuna
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday held a series of phone calls with European leaders to advance efforts for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The discussions, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, underscored South Africa’s bid to position itself as a key player in promoting dialogue and peace in the war.
“In all the discussions European leaders openly shared their perspectives, appreciated South Africa’s role in engaging with both sides to the conflict and provided President Ramaphosa with a firm commitment to supporting efforts aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine,” Presidency said in a statement.
Ramaphosa reiterated the importance of sustained bilateral engagement between the warring nations while emphasising that the U.S. has a pivotal role to play in securing a lasting peace.
He urged all stakeholders to seize the moment, noting that recent engagements have laid fertile ground for cultivating a sustainable solution that could bring the war to an end.
During a call with Ramaphosa, Zelenskyy said that the war—“which nobody ever needed except Russia”—must be brought to an end, reiterating his readiness to meet with the Russian leadership in any format.
He accused Moscow of once again stalling the negotiation process.
Ukraine, he added, expects countries of the Global South to send clear signals and press Russia toward peace.
The two leaders also discussed future engagement with international partners, as well as opportunities for joint work with Africa to strengthen dialogue, deepen relations, and bolster food security.
Zelenskyy and Ramaphosa agreed to remain in close contact.
Macron confirmed on X that he had held an in-depth discussion with Ramaphosa on global crises, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as instability in the Great Lakes region.
He added that, ahead of the upcoming G20 Summit, France would work closely with South Africa to advance fairer global governance.
“Together, we will chart a roadmap towards a more inclusive world order, particularly as France prepares for its G7 presidency in 2026. We also reviewed economic ties and deepening bilateral cooperation, and agreed to continue our dialogue in the run-up to the UN General Assembly in September,” Macron said.
Stubb, on the other hand, described his talks with Ramaphosa as constructive, highlighting shared views on the urgency of peace efforts in Ukraine.
“We discussed Russia’s war of aggression and the need for a just and lasting peace. Peace is in all our interests—wars have global consequences. South Africa’s voice matters, and it is one of the key players in global security. We agreed that international cooperation and the role of the UN in peace and security must be strengthened,” Stubb said.
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