South African President Cyril Ramaphosa briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin of his country’s preparations for the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
The two leaders held a telephone conversation on various issues, weeks before the BRICS Summit is held.
In a statement, the Kremlin said the two leaders talked about the recent visit by African leaders to Russia in pursuit of a solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
It added that consideration of the African Peace Initiative will continue in conjunction with the Russia-Africa summit at the end of July.
The BRICS summit is scheduled to be held between August 22–24 in Johannesburg.
Earlier this week, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin had not yet decided whether President Putin will personally attend the BRICS Summit or whether he will take part in it in another format.
“We will inform you as soon as the president makes a decision,” Peskov said.
The Kremlin further pointed out that the President Putin in his telephone conversation with President Ramaphosa discussed the Istanbul package agreements.
It said Putin stressed that the obligations envisaged in the relevant Russia-UN memorandum to remove obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertiliser remained unfulfilled, and that the deal’s main goal – to supply grain to countries in need, including those on the African continent – has not been implemented.
