Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon meet with leaders of several African countries to discuss their initiative to resolve the situation in Ukraine, the Kremlin stated following Putin's telephone talks with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa.
"The sides touched upon the African initiative on settling the Ukrainian conflict. It was agreed that Vladimir Putin will receive a delegation of a number of African heads of state in the near future," the statement said.
The leaders also discussed "the relevant issues of further development of the bilateral strategic partnership," as well as preparations for the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg and the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.
"There is an intention to continue the close coordination of Russia and South Africa on international platforms," the statement reads.
Earlier, South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation Director General Zane Dangor said that the president of South Africa and the leaders of five other African countries would visit Moscow and Kiev in early June as part of a peace initiative.