Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in South Africa late on Wednesday, 23 April 2025, marking a significant diplomatic moment as the first-ever official visit by a Ukrainian Head of State. He was received at the airport by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to host Zelenskyy on Thursday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Their meeting will include closed-door talks followed by a joint media briefing. Journalists are expected to arrive for accreditation from 08:00 AM, with official proceedings starting at 11:00 AM.
This engagement comes nearly two years after President Ramaphosa visited Kyiv on 16 June 2023 under the Africa Peace Initiative, an effort driven by African leaders to contribute to resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Talks between the two presidents will focus on strengthening bilateral ties and opening new avenues for cooperation in trade, agriculture, and education. The visit also presents an opportunity to discuss how South Africa might support efforts toward sustainable global peace.
