There are some positive results coming out of the peace mission by African leaders to Ukraine and Russia in June.

President Cyril Ramaphosa told the United Nations General Assembly that the mission led by African leaders was a first step towards a peaceful dialogue to end the war in Russia and Ukraine.

Ramaphosa said he held a meeting with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky on the margins of the 78th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

He said President Zelensky told him that some progress had been made on some of the issues raised by the delegation of African leaders.

Ramaphosa said their first visit to Russia and Ukraine was designed to build a foundation of trust in a future resolution of the conflict through dialogue.

"We said... Children who were removed from Ukraine should be returned,"he told the UN.

"We also said that the prisoners of war should be exchanged between the two countries.

"I've just held a meeting with President Zelensky who says that, in part, some of our efforts are bearing fruit as the children are now being returned and the prisoners are also being exchanged."

He said African leaders hoped to see these happening on a much bigger scale.

In June, Ramaphosa led the delegation from South Africa, Zambia, Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, Senegal, and Uganda to meet President Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky has assured African leaders that his government was making some efforts to implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative to ensure an adequate supply of grain to Africa and world markets.