Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held discussions with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday to explore South Africa’s potential involvement in treating and rehabilitating wounded Ukrainian citizens. The talks occurred on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Anadolu Agency reported.
Zelenskyy shared details of the meeting on his official X account, stating, ‘We discussed the necessity of global efforts by all countries that uphold the principles of the UN Charter to bring about a just peace.’ He added, ‘We also explored the possibility of South Africa’s involvement in the treatment and rehabilitation of our wounded citizens.’
The Ukrainian leader also invited South Africa to join an international coalition focused on the return of Ukrainian children allegedly deported by Russia.
South Africa’s peace mediation role
South Africa has previously sought to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to bring an end to the ongoing conflict, now entering its third year. Two years ago, President Ramaphosa led a delegation of African leaders to both Kyiv and Saint Petersburg in a bid to foster peace talks.
The African peace mission, comprising six leaders and their representatives, travelled to meet Zelenskyy in Ukraine and later held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia. Despite these efforts, the conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions.
Ukraine-South Africa relations
Relations between Ukraine and South Africa have shown signs of strengthening in recent years. Last year, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited South Africa to engage in political consultations and explore avenues for deeper bilateral cooperation.
During his visit, Sybiha held talks with South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola in Pretoria and met members of the local business community. He expressed optimism about the potential for collaboration, highlighting the need for shared efforts to address humanitarian crises, including the conflict in Sudan.
Sybiha also voiced support for South Africa’s presidency of the G20, noting its importance in elevating attention to Ukraine’s concerns. South Africa became the first African nation to assume the G20 presidency in December.
Speaking at the time, Ramaphosa highlighted the significance of this role, stating, ‘The G20 is an important formation. Our economy is rather small, but we are part of the G20, so we are punching above our weight because of our positioning in the world and the many positions we have taken, as well as the strength of our economy.’
Zelenskyy’s outreach to South Africa signals a broader effort to rally global support for Ukraine’s recovery and peace initiatives. By fostering partnerships across continents, both leaders aim to address the humanitarian and economic challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.
This development underscores the importance of collaboration in addressing global crises and promoting stability, particularly as South Africa takes on a leadership role in the G20.
