Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly told President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday that Moscow had never rejected the “diplomatic track” to resolving the Ukrainian conflict.
According to the Kremlin’s summary of the call, Putin supported South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proposal to include African leaders in discussions about a Ukrainian peace process.
South Africa has remained neutral in the 15-month conflict. On Friday, officials there responded to US claims that a sanctioned Russian ship restocked on weapons at a naval base near Cape Town at the end of last year.
Despite Pretoria’s claims of neutrality, the United States’ ambassador to South Africa said on Thursday that he was “confident” a Russian ship loaded weapons from the Simon’s Town naval base in December.
Ramaphosa stated that an investigation into the claim had been launched.
According to the Kremlin, South Africa initiated the call between the two leaders on Friday.
During their meeting, Putin also offered to send free Russian grain and fertilizer to African nations.
