SOUTH African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has revealed that his country will host Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, for a state visit, though no official date has been announced.
The invitation comes as Ukraine faces increasing diplomatic challenges, including exclusion from recent U.S.-Russia peace talks over the ongoing war.
Ramaphosa and Zelensky, in a recent phone call, emphasised the need for an inclusive peace process, with Zelensky reiterating that “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
This aligns with South Africa’s past efforts to mediate in the conflict, including a 2023 African-led peace delegation involving Egypt, Senegal, Zambia, and Uganda, which met with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
South Africa has long been seen as having close ties with Russia, partly due to their shared membership in the BRICS economic bloc, which also includes Brazil, India, and China.
However, Pretoria has sought to position itself as a neutral mediator in global conflicts, despite past criticisms over its perceived pro-Russia stance.
Ramaphosa’s invitation to Zelensky may be an effort to demonstrate diplomatic balance, especially as South Africa’s relations with the U.S. have become increasingly strained.
The Trump administration recently cut off aid to Pretoria over South Africa’s new land expropriation law, with Ramaphosa responding that his country “will not be bullied.”
Zelensky’s upcoming visit comes amid his shifting relationship with the U.S., which has historically been one of Ukraine’s strongest allies.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently criticised Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” who has “done a terrible job.”
Despite these tensions, Zelensky continues to engage with world leaders in pursuit of peace and international support. His visit to South Africa follows his December 2024 expression of interest in visiting Pretoria, where he remarked, “I will be in Pretoria with pleasure, but you must ask Mr. Ramaphosa because I think he is more busy.”
While South Africa has not explicitly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ramaphosa’s latest outreach to Kyiv signals a willingness to engage with all sides. Whether this visit leads to concrete diplomatic progress remains to be seen.
