Diplomatic chief Josep Borrell expressed hope that South Africa would use its good relations with Russia to convince it to stop the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Speaking alongside South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor in the capital Pretoria, Borrell said the EU was not asking South Africa to choose sides but rather just asking countries across the world to stand with the United Nations Charter.

He added that the EU considers South Africa an important partner in the rules-based international order.