(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin updated South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday about his recent high-stakes summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a statement from the Kremlin.

The leaders held a phone conversation in which Ramaphosa voiced support for diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

"The mutual commitment to further develop the Russian-South African comprehensive strategic partnership and close cooperation between the two countries on international platforms was confirmed," the Kremlin statement read.

Putin and Trump met last Friday in Anchorage, Alaska — their first face-to-face discussion since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022.

During a joint press conference following the session, Trump characterized the meeting as "productive," while Putin extended an invitation to the U.S. president: "Next time in Moscow."

Russian state-run outlets, including Tass, reported that Putin will continue reaching out to international counterparts to share outcomes from the Alaska summit.

As a direct follow-up to the August 15 meeting, Trump is scheduled to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders at the White House later Monday, signaling a renewed diplomatic push to end the war.

On Sunday, Trump wrote on social media: "President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight."

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated that Moscow had agreed to permit both the U.S. and Europe to offer Ukraine security guarantees as part of a potential peace accord.

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