Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in South Africa on Thursday for high-level talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa, centered on enhancing bilateral cooperation and finding solutions to end Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The visit marked a significant diplomatic milestone for Zelensky, as he sought to counter Moscow’s growing influence across the African continent. It was his first official trip to Africa since assuming office in 2019, and the first visit by a Ukrainian head of state to South Africa in over three decades.
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However, the trip was overshadowed by a Russian air strike on Kyiv, which forced Zelensky to cut his visit short. He announced he would return to Ukraine immediately after his meeting with Ramaphosa.
Despite the abrupt end, Ramaphosa hailed the visit as a reaffirmation of the relationship between South Africa and Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and peace, noting that discussions with Zelensky focused on achieving a “comprehensive peace” to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In a post on X, Ramaphosa stated, “We both affirmed the strong bilateral relations between our respective countries. We further committed to working together towards a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”
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Ahead of Zelensky’s arrival, Ramaphosa also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. The South African leader has long sought to position himself as a neutral mediator, having led a delegation of African leaders to Kyiv and Moscow in 2023 in a bid to broker peace.
Zelensky’s visit came at a time of strained ties between Ukraine and the United States, South Africa was facing growing pressure from the Trump administration over its perceived neutrality, particularly after joint naval exercises with Russia and China.
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Seizing the diplomatic moment, Ramaphosa revealed he had also spoken to Trump about the Ukraine conflict and broader South Africa-U.S. relations, with both agreeing to meet soon.
The talks between Zelensky and Ramaphosa also touched on expanding economic cooperation. With South Africa grappling with sluggish growth and high unemployment, both leaders explored ways to strengthen trade and investment between their countries.
