Zelenskyy’s April Visit to South Africa Aims at Peace Talks with Russia
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will visit South Africa on April 10 for peace talks with President Ramaphosa. This is part of South Africa’s efforts to mediate between Ukraine and Russia, maintaining a neutral stance in the conflict. Zelenskyy aims to strengthen support for Ukraine amidst challenges from U.S. foreign policy. Ramaphosa emphasizes the necessity of including Ukraine in discussions for a comprehensive peace agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit South Africa on April 10, 2025, for discussions with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa aimed at establishing a “path to peace” with Russia. This visit continues Ramaphosa’s diplomatic efforts towards fostering an inclusive peace process between Ukraine and Russia, as highlighted by spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
South Africa maintains a neutral stance in the ongoing conflict and has acted as a mediator, albeit with limited success. Ramaphosa has previously led a peace mission to engage both nations, facilitating meetings with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with subsequent communications between the leaders since then.
South Africa’s ties to Russia are strengthened by its BRICS membership, which Ramaphosa hopes to utilize to advance peace talks. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is striving to bolster support for Ukraine following a challenging meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, who froze military aid as leverage to prompt negotiations to conclude the three-year war.
In line with this, South Africa insists that Ukraine’s involvement in peace talks is essential, aligning with European leaders’ sentiments. Ramaphosa is also scheduled to engage with European leaders next week in Cape Town during an EU-South Africa summit, emphasizing cooperation to resolve the conflict. As this year’s G20 President, South Africa advocates for collaborative efforts among major nations to mitigate the war in Ukraine.
In conclusion, President Zelenskyy’s upcoming visit to South Africa is part of a broader effort to mediate peace discussions with Russia, facilitated by President Ramaphosa. Both leaders share the goal of an inclusive peace process, reflecting South Africa’s neutral role and its strategic ties to Russia through BRICS. The ongoing efforts emphasize the importance of Ukraine’s participation in negotiations, supported by various international leaders as South Africa takes on a pivotal role in global diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Original Source: apnews.com
