Zelenskiy to Visit South Africa for Talks in April

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will meet with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in South Africa on April 10. According to Ramaphosa's spokesperson, this meeting is an attempt to gather international support after the United States cut all military funding.

While South Africa wants to position itself as neutral in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, it maintains friendly relations with Russia as both nations are part of the emerging BRICS economies, which also includes China, India, Brazil and other countries that are trying to challenge Western economic dominance.

For the past three years, South Africa has not denounced Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, neither has it supported any pro-Ukrainian resolutions or voted for them in the United Nations.

“The visit is a continuation of ongoing engagements held by President Ramaphosa with President Putin and President Zelenskiy on an inclusive… process that will provide a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine,” Magwenya said to Reuters.

In 2023, the American ambassador to South Africa accused the country of arming Russia while claiming to be neutral in the conflict. An investigation showed that there is no proof of a Russian ship taking weapons from a South African naval base.

Zelensky’s intended trip to South Africa follows a hostile exchange with Donald Trump, and comes at a pivotal moment in the war given Trump’s recent decision to freeze Washington’s arms supply to Kyiv. South Africa’s invitation was extended to all leaders of the BRICS group which includes Brazil, India, Russia, China and South Africa and The 15th BRICS Summit is scheduled for August 2023 in South Africa

On the other hand, Trump has increased efforts to bring an end to the conflict as well as improve the relations between Russia and America which has helped the European leaders on Thursday to approve further investment in defense and pledge renewed support for Ukraine.

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