President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that he will soon host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyin South Africa for a State Visit.
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This follows a constructive engagement between the two leaders, during which they reaffirmed their commitment to an inclusive peace process to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Fostering dialogue
Taking to social media on Friday, President Ramaphosa expressed optimism about the discussions, emphasising South Africa’s dedication to fostering dialogue between the warring nations.
“I welcome the constructive engagement I had with President @ZelenskyyUA [Zelenskyy] and I look forward to hosting him in South Africa soon for a state visit. We both agreed on the urgent need for an inclusive peace process that involves all parties in finding a resolution to the conflict and securing a lasting peace.
“South Africa remains committed to supporting the dialogue process between Russia and Ukraine,” President Ramaphosa said in a post on X.
This development comes as South Africa continues to advocate for peaceful negotiations rather than military interventions in the war that began nearly two years ago.
As a member of the BRICS bloc alongside Russia, South Africa has often walked a diplomatic tightrope, calling for peace while maintaining strategic ties with Moscow.
Mediate the crisis
President Ramaphosa was part of the African Peace Initiative, which saw a delegation of African leaders travel to Kyiv and St. Petersburg in June 2023 in an attempt to mediate the crisis.
The mission comprised the Presidents of Senegal, the Comoros, Zambia and South Africa, together with the Prime Minister of Egypt and envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The leaders presented a ten-point proposal that they believe can contribute to various efforts that have been made by various parties to bring the conflict to an end.
The mission sought to encourage dialogue, protect grain exports crucial to African nations, and explore a path toward de-escalation.
While South Africa has faced criticism over its perceived closeness to Russia, President Ramaphosa has consistently defended the country’s non-aligned stance, arguing that diplomatic engagement with both parties remain the best path toward a resolution.
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