Cape Town – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has held a telephone conversation with his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, on resistance to the Russian attack.
Zelensky said this in a tweet on Wednesday.
“Had a phone conversation with @CyrilRamaphosa. Told about our resistance to Russian aggression. Discussed the threat of a global food crisis, deepening relations with the Republic of South Africa and cooperation within international organisations,” he tweeted.
Had a phone conversation with @CyrilRamaphosa. Told about our resistance to Russian aggression. Discussed the threat of a global food crisis, deepening relations with the Republic of South Africa and cooperation within international organizations.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 20, 2022
Ramaphosa has, however, not yet confirmed the phone call.
The South African leader has previously confirmed through Twitter that he has had telephonic conversations with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden.
This would be the first time that Ramaphosa has spoken to Zelensky since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia almost two months ago.
Times Live reported on Thursday that the Ukrainian ambassador to South Africa Liubov Abravitova had confirmed that the phone call did take place.
ALSO READ | Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to Vladimir Putin over Russia-Ukraine conflict… SA asked to mediate
Ramaphosa’s government has been criticised for refusing to condemn Moscow’s bloody invasion.
Earlier this month, South Africa abstained once again from voting on the UN General Assembly resolution that suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine.
It was the third time that South Africa abstained from voting on resolutions adopted over the war.
Ramaphosa blasted the UN Security Council as “outdated” and in dire need of an overhaul.
The continental powerhouse has maintained a non-aligned stance, touting negotiation as the best option to end the conflict despite international outrage and condemnation.
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Picture: Twitter/@PresidencyZA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
