President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is located on historical visits South Africa, signals a dramatic improvement of used tense relations between two nations.
The visit is marked by a diplomatic breakthrough for the Ukrainian leader in their efforts to oppose strong – and growing in Africa.
“I am sure Russia will be annoyed by a visit, but I don’t think it can do much about that,” said Steven Bruzd the South African Institute for the International Relations Think-Tank.
But Russia has disrupted Zelensky’s visit by conducting an air strike on the capital of Ukraine, forcing him to announce that he would decrease.
“I cancel the part of the program for this visit and I will return to Ukraine immediately after a meeting with the president of South Africa,” Zelensky said on social networks.
Apart from the short table in Cape Verde in 2023. year while flying in Argentina, this is Zelensky’s first visit to Africa since he became Ukrainian president in 2019. years.
Ukraine has embedded the diplomatic importance of African countries, when many of them are – including South Africa, rejected the full invasion of Russia on its territory 2022. years.
“Ukraine has neglected continent in terms of foreign policy, but it has changed that in the last three years it doubled its embassies from 10 to 20,” said Mr. Bruzd.
“But that is in a very crowded area – Russia, China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are trying to increase their influence in Africa.”
Zelensky’s visit to South Africa is especially important, such as Ukrainian relationship with the US – its main supplier of weapons – sour from President Donald Trump in January.
He briefly pauses military aid, denounced by Zelenksy as a “dictator” and accused Ukraine to be responsible for war.
“Ukraine needs every legitimacy that can get internationally – not only in Europe. Wars do not only win the battlefield, but also in the courts of public opinion around the world,” said Prof. Siphamandla Zondi, a political analyst in Johannesburg.
For the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphos, the visit is equally significant, as well as its country, under the intensive pressure of the Trump administration.
“Now they turned on the head to graduation,” Mr. Gudz said, adding, “They all look for new friends.”
Ramafosa sees Zelensky’s visit as an attempt to reinforce their credentials as a peacekeeper, saying their conversations will focus on efforts to find “Road to Mira”.
The South African leader added that he and Putin held a telephone conversation in front of Zelensky visits.
“We both confirmed strong bilateral relations between our countries”, ” Ramafosa said in post on x.
“We further dedicated our joint work in peaceful resolution of Russia-Ukraine’s conflict,” he added.
Ramafosa first tried to take over the role of Peace 2023. when he led the delegation of African leaders and Kiev and Moscow in an attempt to mediate the end of the conflict.
The initiative came to South Africa with immersion from the then American President Joe Biden, which indicated his delivery in conflict after holding a maritime exercise with Russia and China.
Relationships have worsened after Washington’s Tada-Ambassador to Pretoria Accused South Africa to supply weapons and ammunition in Russia.
Ramafosa later appointed an investigation, he led Judge to investigate the cess. He found no evidence to back up the request of the Ambassador, but relations between South Africa and the Biden Administration remained stressed.
The connections of South Africa with Russia were not a painkilling point for Trump, as it also agrees with the path and push Zelenia to agree with the Russian leader.
However, Trump’s relationship with South Africa arrived at the Genocyde against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and for what he calls “unjust and immoral practices” against the white minority African community – the state of Ramafossa is denying.
Prof. Zondi said that South Africa would have to ensure that the conversations Ramaphos with Zelenic did not hurt their attempts to repair relations with Trump administration.
“South Africa will want to explain that the efforts on the construction of peace, and its role is not in the competition with that (The),” added. ”
Ramaphosa was on Cue, announced on Thursday that he talked to Trump about the conflict in Ukraine.
The bloodless, Ramafosa also used the opportunity to discuss relations between South Africa and the United States and said that they and Trump agreed to meet soon.
This would be their first meeting when Trump’s return to the office, and Ramaphos hope to relate to American Africa returned to the path.
Earlier this month, Trump announced a 30% tariff on South Africa Robbie, although it was later hell for 20 days.
Ramafosa will hope that their talks will lead to Trump alleviating his attitude, because such high tariffs would be the main blow to the South Africa economy.
Prof. Zondi said that he expected Ramaphos to talk to Zelenia to focus on the strengthening of trade with Ukraine, because the South Africa economy was in crisis, with low growth and high unemployment.
“Any scope of trade, no matter how small, critical for South Africa,” he said, adding that strong relations between the two nations could benefit both Ukraine in their efforts to extend his influence on the continent.
“South Africa could be an Ukrainian approach in Africa because of their ports and financial systems,” said Prof. Zondi.
If this happens, it would mark a new chapter in relations in Ukraine-Africa, although not necessarily on the detriment of Russia.
“And Russia and Ukraine are the largest exporters of cereals in Africa. Africa needs both. It cannot be expected to choose sides,” an analyst said.
2025-04-24 10:13:00
