Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from leading rich and developing countries focused on global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, on the last day of their meeting in South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said Friday he expected Volodymyr Zelensky to visit South Africa soon for talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia nearly three years ago. "I welcome the constructive engagement I had with President @ZelenskyyUA and I look forward to hosting him in South Africa soon for a state visit,

We’ve not got anywhere near a negotiated settlement,’ said David Lammy on Thursday. The Ukraine war’s third anniversary is next week.

Johannesburg — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in South Africa on Thursday for a two-day meeting of the Group of 20 nations, where top European diplomats are expected to reinforce their support for Ukraine and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is a high-profile absentee.

South Africa's rand recouped some losses against a weaker dollar early on Thursday, after news of Washington's aim to begin talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

The meeting will focus on Gaza and Ukraine but countries from the Global South want to confront reform, climate change and economic fairness. US FM Marco Rubio is boycotting over South Africa's "anti-American" policies.

G20 foreign ministers meet in South Africa to discuss Ukraine war – Lavrov emphasizes the importance of dialogue for peace.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday opened the two-day G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Johannesburg, the largest city and economic hub of South Africa, where he called for multilateralism and the application of international law in resolving world crises.