JOHANNESBURG – April 24, 2025 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in South Africa today for a high-stakes diplomatic visit aimed at garnering support for Ukraine’s peace initiatives and deepening bilateral relations with the African continent’s largest economy.
In a statement, Zelensky underscored the urgency of uniting the international community to bring about a “just peace” in Ukraine, which continues to face relentless aggression from Russia.
“It is crucial to bring a just peace closer. We are working to ensure that the G20 countries are actively engaged in diplomatic efforts,” Zelensky said.
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The Ukrainian leader met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and other regional representatives, calling for South Africa’s active participation in global efforts, particularly the International Coalition for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
“We count on South Africa’s meaningful participation… We will also certainly strengthen our cultural and educational ties,” he added.
Zelensky’s visit comes at a complex time for South Africa, which currently chairs the G20 and maintains a non-aligned stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite mounting pressure from the West, Pretoria has preserved strong diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow. South Africa is also a key member of the BRICS bloc, alongside Russia, China, Brazil, and India, and has recently conducted joint naval drills with Russia and China.
In a parallel effort to boost economic ties, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, led a delegation of ministers and business leaders to South Africa just a day before Zelensky’s arrival—the first official visit of its kind.
“Our trade relations with this region have enormous potential for development,” said Svyrydenko, highlighting that the bilateral trade volume reached $113.9 million last year. She acknowledged the modest scale but noted that South African imports made up the bulk of that figure.
Zelensky’s trip was dramatically overshadowed by a large-scale Russian aerial attack on Ukraine that killed at least nine people and injured over 70 in Kyiv. The Ukrainian president announced he would shorten his South African visit and return home immediately following his meeting with President Ramaphosa.
“I have instructed Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to request additional air defense support from our international partners,” Zelensky stated.
Despite the somber developments, the visit marks a significant step in Kyiv’s outreach to African nations—an effort to counter Russia’s influence and rally new support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and post-war recovery.
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