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France 24
France 24
World
Sébastian SEIBT

South African ties to Russia shadow Ukraine peace mission

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, speaks to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, right, during a plenary session at the Russia-Africa summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia on October 24, 2019. © Sergei Chirikov, AP

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead a delegation of African leaders on a peace mission to Ukraine and Russia this week amid attempts to assuage Western concerns that South Africa is siding with Russia in the conflict despite its proclaimed neutrality – which has Ramaphosa doing a round of diplomatic damage control. 

Ramaphosa had a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday, June 9 to brief Beijing about the upcoming visit by seven African leaders to Ukraine and Russia to "find a peaceful solution" to the war in Ukraine.

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