South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country is deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and believes the only path to peace is through diplomacy.

This comes on the back of Russia launching a wave of deadly attacks against Kyiv early Thursday morning, hours after US President Donald Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of harming peace talks in a fresh tirade against Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa remains deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stressing that diplomacy is the only path to lasting peace. SABC News Reporter Khayelihle Khumalo has the latest updates live from the Union Buildings in Pretoria. pic.twitter.com/ZupL4q2Quf

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President Zelenskyy is on an official working visit to South Africa. The visit is seen as a diplomatic breakthrough for the Ukrainian leader in his efforts to counter Russia’s growing influence in Africa.

President Ramaphosa has confirmed he had a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump this morning ahead of Zelenskyy’s visit to South Africa.

Ramaphosa hosts Zelenskyy on first official visit to SA

Ramaphosa says he and Trump discussed a number of issues, including the war in Ukraine.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.

President Ramaphosa says earlier in the week, he also spoke to the Russian Federation President, Vladimir Putin.

He says South Africa will continue with its efforts, aiming to assist in ending the war in Ukraine.

“The call between myself and President Trump was long in the making. And I last spoke to the President in January when he was about to be inaugurated, when I congratulated him. So we had a second call now, which was a very cordial discussion, and of course, as President Zelenskyy is paying a visit here, the issue of the war in Ukraine and Russia came up as well, and many other issues we touched on.”