CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit South Africa next month for discussions with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa about forging “a path to peace” with Russia, according to an announcement made on Friday by Ramaphosa’s spokesperson.
The meeting, scheduled for April 10, is part of Ramaphosa’s sustained efforts to facilitate an “inclusive peace process” between Ukraine and Russia. South Africa has maintained a neutral stance on the conflict, trying to serve as a mediator, albeit with limited effectiveness. In 2023, Ramaphosa led an African peace mission visiting both Russia and Ukraine and held separate meetings with President Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since then, he has conducted individual phone conversations with both leaders.
South Africa’s connections to Russia are strengthened through the nation’s membership in the BRICS bloc, which Ramaphosa intended to leverage in an attempt to advance peace discussions. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy is seeking to bolster international backing for Ukraine after encountering challenges during a recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. During this meeting, Trump halted U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, urging Zelenskyy to pursue conflict resolution. This development comes after the U.S. and other European allies refrained from involving Ukraine in discussions with Russia that took place in Saudi Arabia.
In response, South Africa has emphasized that Ukraine must be included in any peace process, echoing the position held by European leaders. Next week, President Ramaphosa is expected to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in Cape Town during the annual European Union-South Africa summit.
Taking up the presidency of the Group of 20 this year, South Africa is advocating for cooperation among the G20 countries, including the U.S., Russia, the U.K., France, and Germany, to bring an end to the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine.
