South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a state visit, marking a significant diplomatic move amid Ukraine’s strained relations with the United States.
Ramaphosa announced the invitation in a post on X, expressing his eagerness to host Zelensky
“I welcome the constructive engagement I had with President @ZelenskyyUA and look forward to hosting him in South Africa soon for a state visit,” he wrote.
During their discussions, Ramaphosa and Zelenskyy emphasized the need for an inclusive peace process to resolve the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s role in facilitating dialogue between both nations, stating, “South Africa remains committed to supporting the dialogue process between Russia and Ukraine.”
However, no date has been confirmed for the visit.
Reports indicate that the invitation was formally extended on January 15, with follow-up meetings between the two leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September and at the World Economic Forum in Davos in November.
Zelenskyy also confirmed his acceptance via X, thanking South Africa for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“I spoke with President @CyrilRamaphosa and thanked him for South Africa’s support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he wrote.
He also stressed that any negotiations about Ukraine’s future must include Ukraine itself, saying, “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. We all hope to achieve a just and lasting peace this year.”
The state visit announcement follows Ramaphosa’s recent call at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting for diplomatic resolutions to global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, unrest in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel region, and the crisis in Gaza.
Speaking at the event in Johannesburg, he welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, calling it a crucial step toward easing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He also emphasized the importance of global cooperation in addressing conflicts, climate change, food insecurity, and rising geopolitical tensions.
“These challenges are interconnected. They require responses that are inclusive and well-coordinated through various forums such as the G20,” he said
However, the invitation to Zelenskyy has drawn criticism from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The party warned 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.”