Ramaphosa and Putin discuss Ukraine war

President Cyril Ramaphosa held a telephone discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on the Ukraine peace process and strengthening bilateral relations, the Presidency has confirmed.

In a statement issued late on Thursday, the Presidency said the call was initiated at Putin’s request to brief Ramaphosa on developments in the peace process with Ukraine and to “engage on issues of mutual bilateral interest.”

The war in Ukraine began in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, escalating tensions that had simmered since its 2014 annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists.

The invasion has caused tens of thousands of deaths, displaced millions, and triggered some of the most severe global sanctions against Russia since the Cold War.

A CSIS study that reports up to 250,000 Russian deaths and nearly 950,000 wounded while Ukrainian losses are also severe, with 60,000–100,000 killed and total casualties, included wounded, at around 400,000.

According to the Presidency, President Putin “expressed his recognition and appreciation for South Africa’s involvement in advancing a peace process between Russia and Ukraine.”

Ramaphosa “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 added that the two leaders also agreed to “further their discussions on moving forward the strategic relationship between their two countries.”

The Presidency noted that South Africa has consistently positioned itself as a non-aligned mediator in the conflict, advocating for inclusive negotiations without preconditions.

Ramaphosa has previously engaged with both Moscow and Kyiv, including hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Pretoria earlier this year, where he reiterated that peace talks should be unconditional.

South Africa’s stance has attracted both praise and criticism internationally.

While Western allies have questioned Pretoria’s close ties with Moscow, particularly given the ICC arrest warrant for Putin, the Presidency has defended its approach as rooted in “principled diplomacy” aimed at ending hostilities.

The Presidency has pointed out that South Africa’s relationship with Russia extends beyond the Ukraine issue, encompassing economic cooperation, BRICS membership, and long-standing political ties.

Further engagements between Ramaphosa and Putin are expected.

It remains unclear whether the latest conversation will lead to concrete proposals in the Ukraine peace process, but the Presidency emphasised that South Africa will “continue to support and participate in any genuine initiative that brings the war to an end.”