Russian President Vladimir Putin phoned South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday to brief him on last week’s summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska, the Kremlin said.
According to the readout, Ramaphosa voiced support for diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful settlement to the war in Ukraine. Both leaders “confirmed their mutual commitment” to deepen a comprehensive strategic partnership and to coordinate closely on international platforms, the statement said.
Putin and Trump met Friday in Anchorage, their first face-to-face since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump called the talks “productive,” while Putin invited him to visit Moscow. Russian state media said Putin would continue calling foreign leaders to relay outcomes from the meeting.
As a follow-up to the Aug. 15 summit, Trump is hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House later Monday as he seeks a Ukraine peace deal. On Sunday, Trump wrote on social media: “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.”
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said Russia had agreed that the U.S. and Europe could provide Ukraine with security guarantees as part of a potential agreement.