South Africa has reaffirmed its support for Russia’s efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict through political and diplomatic means, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Tuesday during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The remarks underscore Pretoria’s longstanding position that all wars must end through negotiations. “This is in line with South Africa’s long stated position during talks with both sides that all wars end through negotiations,” the South African presidency said.

Ramaphosa, who led a delegation of African leaders to Russia and Ukraine in June 2023, has emphasized his commitment to securing ceasefire commitments from both sides. He has since held bilateral talks with Putin and Vladimir Zelensky on an inclusive peace process involving all parties to the crisis. South Africa maintains a non-aligned stance on the Ukraine conflict despite external pressure to condemn Moscow, which it regards as a “valued ally.”

The two leaders also discussed broader international matters and stressed the importance of aligning policies within multilateral platforms, including BRICS and the G20. Putin and Ramaphosa last spoke in August, when the Russian leader briefed his South African counterpart about face-to-face talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska, where efforts were made to settle the Ukraine conflict.

Earlier, Ramaphosa had also been updated on talks held in Moscow between Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff on August 6. Zelensky’s decisions have been criticized for hindering diplomatic progress in the crisis.