Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has engaged in discussions with European leaders to advance peace efforts concerning the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Presidency announced that President Ramaphosa conducted a series of telephone calls on Saturday. These discussions followed meetings convened by United States President Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and several other European leaders.
President Ramaphosa's conversations included President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and President Alexandar Stubb of Finland. The Presidency indicated that additional engagements with other European leaders are planned for the coming days and weeks.
The Presidency also highlighted that President Ramaphosa valued the briefing he received last week from President Putin, which followed Putin's meeting with President Trump. This briefing was part of ongoing efforts to engage both sides of the conflict.
During these discussions, European leaders shared their perspectives, acknowledged South Africa's role in facilitating dialogue, and expressed their commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of conducting bilateral and trilateral meetings involving leaders from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. He views these meetings as crucial steps towards demonstrating a strong commitment to ending the war.
The Presidency relayed President Ramaphosa's message urging all parties involved to capitalize on this opportunity and maintain momentum towards achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine.