Zelensky Ends Historic South Africa Visit After Russian Missile Strike on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cut short his first-ever visit to Africa after a major Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, overnight killed at least nine people and injured over 70.

Zelensky, who arrived in South Africa late Wednesday, held a symbolic and unprecedented meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday morning at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Shortly after their meeting, Zelensky announced his immediate return to Kyiv, underscoring the gravity of the ongoing conflict at home.

“We are under attack once again. I must return to stand with my people,” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram account.

A Diplomatic Breakthrough

Despite its abrupt end, the visit marked a turning point in Ukraine-Africa relations. It was the first time a Ukrainian head of state officially visited South Africa in 33 years, and only Zelensky’s second time on the continent since assuming office in 2019.

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President Ramaphosa welcomed Zelensky with a ceremonial handshake and expressed that the visit had “reaffirmed the bonds” between the two nations. It also signalled a thaw in previously lukewarm diplomatic ties, which had been strained due to South Africa’s non-aligned stance on Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Political analyst Steven Gruzd from the South African Institute of International Affairs noted, “This visit is diplomatically significant. It will certainly irritate Russia, but Moscow can do little to stop Ukraine’s growing engagement with Africa.”

The Geopolitical Context

Zelensky’s visit comes at a time of increased geopolitical jostling across the African continent, where powers such as Russia, China, Turkey, and the UAE are vying for influence. Ukraine, once seen as inattentive to African diplomacy, has now doubled its embassies on the continent from 10 to 20 in the past three years.

With President Donald Trump back in the White House and openly critical of Zelensky—accusing him of prolonging the war by refusing to cede Crimea—Ukraine’s outreach to African nations has become more urgent.

“Wars aren’t only fought on battlefields—they’re also fought in the courts of public opinion,” said Professor Siphamandla Zondi from the University of Johannesburg. “Africa is a crucial theatre in global diplomacy.”

South Africa’s Strategic Balancing Act

For President Ramaphosa, the visit also served to bolster his image as a global peacemaker, following his 2023 mediation efforts in both Kyiv and Moscow. He emphasised that his meeting with Zelensky was part of “ongoing efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace.”

Ramaphosa had also recently held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reaffirming bilateral ties with Moscow. This delicate balancing act reflects South Africa’s commitment to non-alignment while asserting a leadership role in global conflict resolution.

Ramaphosa also confirmed that he had spoken to President Trump to discuss not only Ukraine but the strained US-South Africa relations, worsened by Washington’s accusations of arms deals with Russia and the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Economic and Strategic Outcomes

In addition to security discussions, Zelensky and Ramaphosa focused on deepening trade ties. With South Africa facing high unemployment and economic stagnation, even modest increases in trade with Ukraine could offer a lifeline.

Zelensky’s visit could thus mark the beginning of a broader Ukrainian pivot to Africa, seeking to build partnerships that extend beyond Europe and the US.