South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is urging an end to the Ukraine war by suggesting a meeting between Kyiv and Moscow.
His recent phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky highlights the growing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Despite earlier hopes, a summit between Russia and Ukraine seems unlikely now. US President Donald Trump had initially sparked optimism by indicating Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky would meet, but later compared them to “oil and vinegar.”
The blame game continues as both Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of stalling peace talks.
“President Ramaphosa stressed the urgency of holding bilateral and trilateral meetings between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine and the United States as key to signal a firm commitment to ending the war,” according to a statement from Pretoria.
Global Leaders Weigh In
After their recent discussion, Zelensky reiterated his readiness for “any format of meeting with the head of Russia” on social media. He accused Moscow of stalling again, urging the Global South to encourage Russia toward peace.
As the chair of the G20, Ramaphosa is actively speaking with global leaders about the situation. He has recently talked with the French and Finnish presidents and plans to engage with more European leaders soon.
Ramaphosa also spoke with Putin last Monday, calling him a “dear ally” at the October BRICS summit.
Yet, despite their relationship, South Africa took a significant step earlier this year by voting in favor of a UN resolution that held Russia responsible for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This marks a critical shift in South Africa’s stance since the start of the conflict. By calling for peace talks and showing support at the UN, Ramaphosa is positioning South Africa as a potential mediator.
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