Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday, marking the first official visit by a Ukrainian Head of State to South Africa. This visit is a significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
According to South African Government News Agency, this engagement follows President Ramaphosa’s visit to Ukraine in June 2023, as part of the African Peace Initiative. During that visit, President Ramaphosa, along with leaders from six other African nations, met with both President Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a 10-point peace proposal aimed at resolving ongoing conflicts affecting global and African economies.
The Presidency has stated that the visits offer an opportunity to discuss and expand bilateral cooperation in trade, agriculture, and education. They also aim to explore areas of collaboration to support efforts for lasting peace. The agenda underscores Africa’s call for negotiation, respect for sovereignty, and an urgent end to the conflict.
The official visit will commence with a welcome ceremony where President Ramaphosa will receive President Zelenskyy at the Union Buildings. This will be followed by a closed session where the two leaders will engage in official talks.
Later, President Ramaphosa and President Zelenskyy are scheduled to address a media briefing, providing insights into their discussions and potential future collaborations.