South Africa invites Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a state visit following fallout with United States

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that he has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a state visit to South Africa. The announcement was made via X (formerly Twitter), where Ramaphosa expressed his anticipation of hosting Zelenskyy. “I welcome the constructive engagement I had with President @ZelenskyyUA and I look forward to hosting him in South Africa soon for a state visit,” he wrote.

 

The two leaders discussed the urgent need for an inclusive peace process that involves all parties in resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s commitment to facilitating dialogue between both nations, stating, “South Africa remains committed to supporting the dialogue process between Russia and Ukraine.” However, no specific date for the visit has been confirmed.

Reports indicate that the formal invitation was extended on January 15, followed by meetings between Ramaphosa and Zelenskyy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September and later at the World Economic Forum in Davos in November.

Zelenskyy also confirmed his upcoming visit in a post on X, thanking South Africa for its support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “I spoke with South African President @CyrilRamaphosa and thanked him for South Africa’s support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he wrote. Emphasizing Ukraine’s role in any negotiations concerning its future, he added, “It is important that our countries share the same position: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. We all hope to achieve a just and lasting peace this year.”

 

The confirmation of the state visit follows Ramaphosa’s recent call at the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers’ meeting for diplomatic solutions to global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, the Sahel, and Gaza. Speaking at the event held at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, calling it a vital step toward alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “South Africa welcomes the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas as a crucial first step towards ending the severe humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people in Gaza,” he said. 

He stressed the need for a long-term resolution aligned with United Nations resolutions and international law. “This ceasefire must lay the basis for a just and lasting peace in line with UN resolutions, in line with international law and internationally agreed parameters.” Ramaphosa further highlighted the importance of diplomatic engagement in conflict resolution, stating, “Our own experience as South Africa is that the peaceful resolution of conflict through inclusive dialogue is the foremost guarantor of sustainable and lasting peace.”

 

He also called on G20 nations to address global challenges collectively, citing geopolitical tensions, rising intolerance, wars, climate change, pandemics, and food and energy insecurity as threats to global stability. “These challenges are interconnected. They require responses that are inclusive and responses that should be well coordinated through various forums such as the G20,” Ramaphosa said.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have criticized the invitation extended to Zelenskyy. According to IOL, the party cautioned against South Africa being “distracted” by the Ukrainian leader. EFF Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini dismissed Zelenskyy as a public relations figure backed by NATO, stating, “We will lose focus by entertaining every individual who simply wakes up and speaks.”