South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a statement from the South African Presidency.
The two leaders agreed to maintain open communication and continue cooperating on issues of mutual interest.
A central topic of the conversation was the ongoing situation between Russia and Ukraine. President Putin provided an update on his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump, who is attempting to broker a peace deal. Putin reported that Trump claimed “great progress” had been made, though no ceasefire was mentioned.
The Presidency noted that Ramaphosa appreciated the update and emphasized the need for compromise to achieve a lasting peace. This call follows South Africa’s previous engagements on the issue, including a 2023 meeting where Ramaphosa outlined the war’s impact on Africa and a visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in April 2025.
The call comes as President Zelensky meets with Trump and other European leaders to discuss the proposed peace terms. These reported terms include Ukraine conceding Crimea to Russia and agreeing not to join NATO.
On social media, the news of the call was met with skepticism and humor from many South Africans. Users made jokes questioning the importance of the conversation and criticizing the government’s focus on international affairs amid domestic challenges.
