Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: " I had a productive call with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola. 

I briefed my colleague on the situation on the battlefield and ongoing peace efforts. Ukraine wants to end this war, and South Africa’s voice and engagement are important to support efforts toward a comprehensive and lasting peace. 

We also discussed the situation in the Black Sea and threats to freedom of navigation and global food security. Ensuring safe and uninterrupted navigation is particularly important for food supplies to countries across Africa, and we count on South Africa’s engagement in this regard. 

I thanked Minister Lamola for South Africa’s attention to the issue of returning Ukrainian children and stressed the importance of continued engagement on this important humanitarian matter. 

We also exchanged views on key issues of our bilateral agenda and discussed how Ukraine and South Africa can build on the positive momentum in our relations and deepen practical cooperation. 

We discussed our upcoming bilateral contacts and meetings on the sidelines of international events. I reiterated my invitation to Minister Lamola to visit Ukraine."