South Africa asked to mediate in Ukraine war says President Ramaphosa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that his country has been approached to play a mediation role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but has not stated who had made the suggestion. Mr Ramaphosa tweeted that President Putin appreciated South Africa's "balanced approach".

Steven Gruzd is the head of the Russia Africa project at the Johannesburg-based South African Institute of International Affairs. He told Focus on Africa's Esau Williams that there is already a crowded diplomatic field, but a mediation role for South Africa "could add to [the] prestige of Africa."

Photo: South Africa's President Ramaphosa and Russia's President Putin, pictured at a past event. Credit: AFP.