Ramaphosa, Putin discuss Ukraine ahead of Zelensky’s visit

The conversation, which took place on Sunday, reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations between South Africa and Russia.

It also highlighted both leaders' commitment to working towards a peaceful resolution of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In his statement, Ramaphosa emphasised South Africa’s dedication to engaging all relevant parties, including Ukraine, in efforts to find a path to peace.

“We both affirmed the strong bilateral relations between our respective countries. We further committed to working together towards a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” Ramaphosa said.

On the Russian side, President Putin echoed these sentiments, discussing ongoing cooperation in trade, economy, and investment.

He also outlined Russia’s stance on the Ukraine crisis, stressing the need to address the conflict’s root causes and ensuring Russia’s security concerns are respected.

“In view of South Africa’s willingness to contribute to resolving the Ukraine crisis, I reiterated Russia’s position on the need to eliminate the conflict’s underlying causes and safeguard our security interests,” Putin said.

He also extended well-wishes to Ramaphosa and the South African people ahead of Freedom Day on April 27.

The two leaders agreed to maintain regular communication.

This diplomatic exchange comes as Ramaphosa prepares to host President Zelensky on Thursday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The visit marks the first official visit to South Africa by a Ukrainian head of state, following Ramaphosa’s participation in the African Peace Initiative delegation to Ukraine in June 2023.

The visit provides an opportunity for both nations to strengthen ties in areas such as trade, agriculture, and education, while continuing their discussions on fostering peace in the region.

“The visit will allow South Africa and Ukraine to discuss bilateral relations and explore new avenues of cooperation with the aim of supporting lasting peace,” said the Presidency.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya highlighted that Zelensky’s visit is part of broader, ongoing efforts to resolve the war with Russia.

He reiterated that dialogue remains the only viable path to ending the conflict.

“This visit is the result of continuous engagements between President Ramaphosa, President Zelensky, and President Putin. When President Zelensky arrives, discussions will continue on launching a peace process aimed at bringing both parties to the table,” Magwenya said.

Magwenya also underscored South Africa’s position in the peace efforts, noting the alignment between Ramaphosa and Putin on the necessity of dialogue. “

We are pleased to see more countries rallying around South Africa’s stance. This is not a war that either side can win. It’s a conflict that requires all parties to sit down and work towards a peaceful, negotiated resolution,” he added.

Zelensky’s visit follows a tense meeting with US President Donald Trump, which ended without a resource development deal. This has led to renewed discussions among European leaders on alternative support for Ukraine.

Ramaphosa’s peace efforts have been instrumental in improving diplomatic relations between South Africa and Ukraine, despite the complexities of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

 Ramaphosa remains steadfast in his belief that a peaceful resolution is achievable and that dialogue must remain at the heart of the process.

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