Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he would cut short his visit to South Africa due to a significant Russian assault on Kyiv the previous night. Zelenskyy, however, went ahead with his scheduled meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, as planned.
Zelenskyy disclosed on his Telegram page that he intended to head back to Ukraine after his engagement with Ramaphosa. On their meeting day, Ramaphosa welcomed Zelenskyy on the steps of the Union Buildings, greeting him with a handshake, and they took a moment to pose for photographs before proceeding indoors.
Zelenskyy’s arrival in South Africa coincided with a massive missile and drone attack launched by Russia on Kyiv. This assault resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals and left more than 70 injured.
Zelenskyy’s visit comes in the context of ongoing tensions regarding a peace settlement in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump has recently accused Zelenskyy of perpetuating the extensive conflict by opposing proposals that involve relinquishing any Ukrainian territory, particularly Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia.
Trump criticized Zelenskyy for maintaining the so-called “killing field” by not conceding Crimea, a stance that has stalled peace negotiations. Talks scheduled in London, which included U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials, encountered setbacks with reduced attendance and limited progress, especially after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled his participation, raising uncertainties about future developments.
In an earlier post on X, Zelenskyy had mentioned that his visit to South Africa was intended to support efforts to bring about a “just peace” and was part of a broader diplomatic attempt to engage members of the Group of 20 nations, with South Africa presiding over the G20 this year.
Ramaphosa has positioned himself as a potential mediator in the Ukraine conflict, highlighting South Africa’s ties with Russia through the BRICS alliance. While Ramaphosa claims to have a unique position to communicate with both sides, his mediation efforts have yet to yield definitive results.
Earlier in the week, Ramaphosa had a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both leaders expressed a commitment to collaborating on a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis. Ramaphosa later shared on X that he also discussed peacemaking efforts with Trump, agreeing that an end to the conflict is imperative.
Future meetings between Ramaphosa and Trump are anticipated, focusing on both the Russia-Ukraine war and U.S.-South Africa relations, which have experienced strains during Trump’s presidency.
Zelenskyy has cast doubts on Russia’s dedication to peace. He suggested that an Easter ceasefire declared by Putin lacked sincerity, as Russian attacks on Ukraine have persisted. Zelenskyy has consistently maintained that surrendering Ukrainian territory for peace is unacceptable, stating firmly that it remains the rightful land of the Ukrainian people.