Ukraine Volodimir Zelenski meets with Cyril Ramafosa in South Africa to oppose Russia

Ukraine President Volodimir Zelenski has ended a historic visit to South Africa, signaling a dramatic improvement in the once -weaved relations between the two countries.

The visit marks a diplomatic breakthrough for the Ukrainian leader in his efforts to oppose Russia’s strong and increasing influence in Africa.

“I am sure Russia will be annoyed by the visit, but I don’t think it can do much about it,” said Stephen Grusd of the South African Institute for International Relations Think-Tank.

But Russia has violated Zelenski’s visit by making an air strike in the capital of Ukraine Kiev, forcing him to announce that he will shorten the trip by returning home as he met with President Cyril Ramafosa.

The South African leader said the visit had “confirmed” the links between the two nations, stating that the visit to Zelenski was the first after 33 years by the head of state.

In addition to a short stop in Cape Verde in 2023 while flying to Argentina, it was also Zelenski’s first visit to Africa as he became the president of Ukraine in 2019.

Ukraine understood the diplomatic significance of African countries when many of them – including the regional power plant in South Africa – refused to condemn Russia’s full -scale invasion of its territory in 2022.

“Ukraine has neglected the continent in terms of foreign policy, but it has changed this in the last three years, double its embassies from 10 to 20,” G -n GRZD told the BBC.

“But this is in a very crowded space – Russia, China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are trying to increase their influence in Africa.”

Zelenski’s visit to South Africa was particularly significant, as Ukraine’s relations with the United States, his main weapon supplier – had been destroyed since President Donald Trump took office in January.

He briefly stopped military assistance, denied hernks as a “dictator” and accused Ukraine of being responsible for the war.

“Ukraine needs every part of the legitimacy that can be internationally – not only in Europe. Wars are not only won on the battlefield, but also in the courts of public opinion around the world,” said Prof. Sifamandla Zondi, a political analyst at the University of Johannesburg.

For South Africa President, Cyril Ramafosa, the visit was just as significant as his country was also under intense pressure from the Trump administration.

“The United States turned diplomacy on its head,” said G -Nudz, adding, “Everyone is looking for new friends.”

Ramafosa saw Zelenski’s visit as an attempt to strengthen his credentials as a peacemaker, saying that their conversations focus on efforts to achieve “exhaustive peace”.

The South African leader also had a telephone conversation with Putin before a visit to Zelenski.

“We both confirmed the strong bilateral relations between our respective countries,” ” Ramafosa said in a post of XS

“We also committed ourselves to work together for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Russia-Ukraine,” he added.

For the first time, Ramafosa tried to take on the role of a peacemaker in 2023, when he led an African leaders in both Kiev and Moscow in an attempt to mediate to end the conflict.

The initiative came when South Africa faced the administration of the then US President Joe Biden, who asked his confession in the conflict after conducting naval exercises with Russia and China.

Relationships worsened after the then Ambassador of Washington in Pretoria Accused of South Africa in supply of arms and ammunition in RussiaS

Ramafosa later appointed an investigation, led by a judge to investigate the claim. He found no evidence that supported the ambassador’s request, but the relations between South Africa and the Biden administration remained tense.

South Africa’s ties with Russia were not a painful point for Trump, as he also understood Putin and insisted on Zelenski to make a deal with the Russian leader.

However, Trump’s relationship with South Africa reached a rocky bottom in his genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and what he calls “unjust and immoral practices” against the White Minority African – denies the Ramafosa government.

Prof. Zoni said South Africa would have to ensure that Ramafos’s conversations with Zelenski did not hurt his attempts to correct his relationship with the Trump administration.

“South Africa will want to explain that he is adding to the efforts to build peace and his role is not in competition with that of (The),” he added.

Ramafosa was on the downtown, announcing on Thursday that he had talked to Trump about the conflict in Ukraine.

Most importantly, Ramafosa also took the opportunity to discuss relations between South Africa and the United States and said he and Trump agreed to meet soon.

This will be their first meeting after Trump’s return to office, and Ramafosa will hope that relations between the US and South Africa will return on the road.

Earlier this month, Trump announced a 30% tariff for goods in South Africa, although it later froze the hike for 90 days.

Ramafosa will hope that their conversations will lead to Trump’s softening, as such high tariffs will be a major blow to the South Africa economy.

Ramafosa’s conversations with Zelenski also focused on strengthening trade ties with Ukraine, as South Africa’s economy was in crisis, with low growth and high unemployment.

“Every volume of trade, however small, is crucial to South Africa,” Prof. Zendi said, adding that strong relations between the two countries can also benefit from Ukraine in his efforts to expand his influence on the continent.

“South Africa can be a portal of Ukraine to Africa because of its ports and financial systems,” Prof. Zendy said.

If this happens, this will mark a new chapter in the relations of Ukraine-Africa, though not necessarily at the expense of Russia.

“Both Russia and Ukraine are the largest cereal exporters in Africa. Africa needs both. It cannot be expected to choose countries,” the analyst said.