South Africa sees Russia as a valued ally, Ramaphosa tells Putin

"We continue to see Russia as a valued ally, as a valued friend who supported us right from the beginning, from the days of our struggle against apartheid," Ramaphosa said, according to a clip of the two leaders' meeting shared on social media by South Africa's government news agency.

"We are going to have important discussions here in Kazan within the BRICS family," the South African president added.