By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his first official visit to South Africa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
This comes after Ramaphosa spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, where both Presidents affirmed strong bilateral relations.
Zelenskyy’s visit follows Ramaphosa’s 2023 visit to Ukraine, as part of the Africa Peace Initiative to Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, with recent calls from the US for a ceasefire.
Zelensky touched down at Lanseria airport early on Thursday for the first visit to South Africa by a Ukrainian head of state and an official meeting with Ramaphosa in Pretoria. He intended to stay all day in the country, meeting the local Ukrainian community and holding other meetings including with representatives of political, civil and student communities of African countries.
He was also supposed to give a lecture at the University of Pretoria and visit Freedom Park.
But later he posted on X: “I am canceling part of the program for this visit and will return to Ukraine immediately after the meeting with the President of South Africa.” He added that his foreign minister would represent him at other meetings.
Ramaphosa said, the visit had “reaffirmed” the bonds between the two nations, pointing out that Zelensky’s visit was the first in 33 years by a Ukrainian head of state.
Apart from a brief stopover in Cape Verde in 2023 while flying to Argentina, this was also Zelensky’s first visit to Africa since he became Ukraine’s president in 2019.
Zelensky’s visit to South Africa at this point was especially significant, as Ukraine’s relationship with the US – its main weapons supplier – has soured since President Donald Trump took office in January.
He briefly paused military aid, denounced Zelenksy as a “dictator”, and has accused Ukraine of being responsible for the war.
Ramaphosa also seized the opportunity to discuss relations between South Africa and the US, and said he and Trump had agreed to meet soon.
This would be their first meeting since Trump’s return to office, and Ramaphosa will be hoping that US-South Africa relations get back on track.
Earlier this month, Trump announced a 30% tariff on South African goods, although he later paused the hike for 90 days.
Ramaphosa will be hoping that their talks lead to Trump softening his stance, as such high tariffs would be a major blow to South Africa’s economy.
Ramaphosa’s talks with Zelensky also focused on strengthening trade ties with Ukraine, as South Africa’s economy was in crisis, with low growth and high unemployment.
The South African economy is at a point where it cannot sustain the burden of funding the government and its extensive machinery, with it having to scrape the barrel to find additional revenue to fund its spending.
Zelenskyy said, that they are ready to engage with South Africa on a number of projects involving the energy, defence and agricultural sectors.
The Ukrainian agricultural imports list includes a few products that South Africa also exports.
“For example, Ukraine spends about US$5.5 billion annually on agricultural products. These are mainly spirits, citrus, coffee, tobacco, cheese, wine, banana, chocolate, and palm oil, amongst other products.
“While a major producer and exporter of citrus and wine, South Africa isn’t the primary supplier of these products to Ukraine.
Zelensky added: “It is crucial to bring a just peace closer. We are working to ensure that the G20 countries are actively engaged in diplomatic efforts. We count on South Africa’s meaningful participation in the International Coalition for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.”
He has questioned Russia’s commitment to peace, saying an Easter ceasefire announced by Putin was not genuine and Moscow continued to launch attacks on Ukraine.
He has repeatedly said that giving up Ukrainian territory for a peace deal is not acceptable to his country.
“There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,” Zelenskyy said this week in response to the U.S. proposal.
Meanwhile the South African Communist Party (SACP) said it strongly opposed the South African government’s decision to invite Zelensky for a state visit, calling it “ill-considered”.
SACP spokesperson Alex Mashilo also claimed that Zelensky’s term as President of Ukraine has expired and that no new elections have been held in Ukraine, unlike in Russia, making his status illegitimate.
“He remains a puppet of the US-led imperialist bloc, serving the interests of the NATO political, economic, ideological and war machinery,” Mashilo said.
“His invitation has the effect of placing our country on the wrong side of history and the global class struggle.”
Zelensky’s invitation has faced opposition from multiple political parties, with the SACP not being the first to oppose the visit. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has also expressed disapproval.