Zelenskyy Visits South Africa in Bold Diplomatic Move Amid Push for Peace
April 10, 2025 – Pretoria, South Africa
By Wasse Marlvine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially touched down in South Africa today, marking a historic first for a Ukrainian leader and an ambitious new chapter in Kyiv’s global diplomatic outreach. The visit comes as part of a broader effort to build support for an inclusive peace process to end the war with Russia — and it’s already stirring both hope and controversy within South Africa.
Zelenskyy is meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior members of the South African government to discuss potential pathways toward a negotiated resolution of the ongoing conflict, which has entered its fourth year. The visit is being closely watched by the international community, as Ukraine extends its campaign for diplomatic backing beyond the West to include influential voices in the Global South.
“All Parties Must Be Heard”
In a joint statement ahead of their talks, President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of including all stakeholders in the peace process, reiterating South Africa’s longstanding position of neutrality.
“We believe an inclusive and sustainable peace process is essential. Dialogue, not division, must prevail,” Ramaphosa said.
President Zelenskyy, meanwhile, is using the visit to reaffirm Ukraine’s commitment to a rules-based international order, calling on South Africa — a key member of BRICS and a prominent voice in African diplomacy — to support a multilateral peace framework rooted in sovereignty, justice, and international law.
Strategic Stakes on Both Sides
Zelenskyy’s outreach to South Africa is highly symbolic. Pretoria’s neutral stance and its enduring ties with Moscow make it a pivotal player in any global peace effort. South Africa has previously hosted Russian officials and participated in military drills alongside Russian and Chinese forces, which has drawn concern from Western allies.
Still, the country has also expressed unease about the humanitarian toll of the war in Ukraine and continues to call for dialogue. Zelenskyy’s visit represents Ukraine’s attempt to test the flexibility of that neutrality — and potentially pull Pretoria closer to a pro-peace coalition aligned with Kyiv’s interests.
Political Tensions at Home
The visit has not been universally welcomed within South Africa. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party — a new but vocal political faction aligned with former President Jacob Zuma — staged protests against Zelenskyy’s arrival. Labeling him a “puppet president,” MK leaders claim his presence contradicts South Africa’s non-aligned posture and accused the government of yielding to Western pressure.
Despite the backlash, the Ramaphosa administration has defended the visit, insisting it is part of ongoing efforts to engage with both Russia and Ukraine in the interest of long-term global stability.
Grain, Peace, and Global Alignment
While the official agenda focuses on peace, economic issues — especially food security — are expected to feature in private discussions. Africa has been hit hard by the disruption in global grain exports caused by the war. Ukraine hopes to renew and expand its food supply routes to the continent and promote bilateral trade beyond wartime logistics.
There is also growing speculation that Zelenskyy may seek African support to host future regional sessions of the proposed Global Peace Summit later this year. Such a move would signal Ukraine’s recognition of Africa not just as a humanitarian beneficiary, but as a serious stakeholder in global diplomacy.
What This Could Mean
Zelenskyy’s visit to South Africa could mark a diplomatic turning point — not only for Ukraine’s relationship with Africa, but also for how Global South countries engage with conflicts traditionally seen as outside their immediate sphere.
While a major shift in Pretoria’s stance is unlikely in the short term, the fact that Zelenskyy is being hosted at all is a message in itself: South Africa is open to hearing both sides, and may yet emerge as a soft-power broker in one of the most consequential wars of the 21st century.
In Summary:
Zelenskyy’s visit to South Africa is both a diplomatic milestone and a geopolitical gamble. Whether it succeeds in reshaping African perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine war remains to be seen — but the conversation has clearly begun.
