South Africa sees Russia as a valued ally, President Cyril Ramaphosa said at a bilateral meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, on the eve of the BRICS summit of emerging economies that will take place in the Russian city of Kazan.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed Russia as a "valued ally" and friend of Pretoria, praising Moscow's longstanding support, including during the fight against apartheid. Ramaphosa’s comments came during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the ongoing BRICS summit in Kazan.

South African President Cyril Rampahosaarrived in the Russian city of Kazan on Tuesday to attend the annual BRICS summit as Moscow seeks to project the economic bloc as a geopolitical counterweight to the West.

The Democratic Alliance does not consider Russia, or Vladimir Putin, to be an ally of our Nation. We cannot and will not agree that South Africa should consider an authoritarian regime, that is currently violating international law by waging an imperialist war of aggression against a sovereign state, as an ally.

Even though South Africa and Russia don't share cultural or linguistic ties, their relationship remains surprisingly strong, a bond that has left many observers and Western governments puzzled for years.