Ramaphosa plans talks with Putin

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, this week to discuss Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine and efforts to end it. 

Putin instigated plans to hold the call and will brief Ramaphosa on his trip last week to Alaska, where he discussed the conflict with US leader Donald Trump, South African presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Monday.  

Ramaphosa, who holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 nations, has been among world leaders who have sought to mediate an end to the fighting that erupted when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is scheduled to hold talks with Trump in Washington later on Monday, accompanied by a high-level delegation from the European Union.

Ramaphosa, who has maintained a non-aligned stance toward the conflict, has held previous talks with Zelenskiy, Trump and Putin, and earlier this month called for a ceasefire.

South Africa has also been involved in talks to try to secure the return of 400 Ukrainian children who were abducted by Russia. 

Magwenya didn’t elaborate on what role Ramaphosa may play in any renewed push for peace. 

Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment sent by text message.