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4d ago

Zelenskyy Cuts South Africa Visit Short After Russian Strikes on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returns to Kyiv following deadly missile attacks, leaving South African talks focused on peace mediation and bilateral ties unfinished.

South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola greets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on his arrival ahead of talks with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria, South Africa April 24, 2025. Jacoline Schoonees/DIRCO/Handout via REUTERS
The remains of a building struck by a Russian ballistic missile in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday
Firefighters at the site of a Russian attack in Kharkiv
President Zelensky arriving in South Africa on Thursday. He is now heading back to Kyiv

Overview

  • President Zelenskyy arrived in Pretoria for his first visit to South Africa, meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss cooperation and potential pathways to peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
  • South Africa's recent shift to voting against Russia at the UN General Assembly highlights a move away from its previously neutral stance on the war.
  • Zelenskyy announced he would cut short his diplomatic tour and return to Ukraine after Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv killed nine people and injured over 60, including children.
  • Ramaphosa, leveraging South Africa's BRICS membership and ties to Moscow, has positioned himself as a potential mediator in the conflict, though no concrete progress has been reported.
  • Zelenskyy plans to continue his diplomatic outreach with upcoming meetings in Poland and Czechia as part of efforts to garner broader international support.