Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has reiterated South Africa’s commitment to diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlighting the country’s role as a key mediator in global peace-building initiatives.
Lamola’s remarks follow a series of high-level engagements by President Cyril Ramaphosa, including separate phone calls with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as an in-person meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Pretoria on Thursday.
Speaking on Face the Nation, Lamola said Zelensky’s visit was a direct outcome of the Africa Peace Initiative, which previously saw Ramaphosa travel to both Kyiv and Moscow to present a 10-point peace plan developed by African leaders.
“It was the first visit by the President of Ukraine, informed by the Africa Peace Initiative and the President’s previous visit to both countries to present the plan,” Lamola said.
He welcomed Zelensky’s stated openness to dialogue: “He says he’s ready to enter into negotiations with no conditions. It is a good step in the right direction.”
Lamola also confirmed that Putin had conveyed a willingness to engage diplomatically, stating, “There is a diplomatic track now in motion,” and noted that US Special Envoy Mcebisi Jonas is currently in Moscow to further facilitate talks.
Despite reports of a Russian airstrike on Kyiv during Zelensky’s stay in South Africa, Lamola insisted that both leaders remain committed to finding a peaceful resolution. “They both emphasised the need for dialogue and peaceful engagement,” he said.
On Ramaphosa’s recent call with President Trump, Lamola described it as long-awaited and constructive, touching on bilateral relations and the possibility of a future meeting between the two leaders.
Commenting on diplomatic relations with the US, Lamola said the deployment of a Special Envoy is a strategic step toward strengthening ties. “We believe that the Special Envoy will further contribute to resetting bilateral relations between the two countries,” he said.
