Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky has made a historic visit to South Africa, showing dramatic improvements in the once-trained relationship between the two countries.
The visit marks a diplomatic breakthrough for the Ukrainian leader in his efforts to counter Russia’s powerful and growing influence in Africa.
“I’m sure Russia will be plagued by the visit, but I don’t think that we can do much about it,” said Stephen Gruzd of the Institute for International Relations in South Africa.
Apart from the short stopover at Cape Verde in 2023 while flying to Argentina, this is Zelensky’s first visit to Africa since becoming president of Ukraine in 2019.
Ukraine has grasped the diplomatic significance of African countries. This comes when many of them, including the regional powerhouse South Africa, refused to condemn Russia’s full-scale invasion of territory in 2022.
“Ukraine ignored the continent from a foreign policy perspective, but has changed the doubling of embassies from 10 to 20 over the past three years,” Guruzd told the BBC.
“But it’s in a very crowded space — Russia, China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are all trying to increase their influence in Africa.”
Zelensky’s visit to South Africa at this point is particularly important. This is because Ukraine’s relationship with the United States (its main weapons supplier) has become sour since US President Donald Trump took office in January.
He suspended military aid, denounced Zeleksy as a “dictator” and accused Ukraine of being held responsible for the war.
“Ukraine needs all the legitimacy that can be obtained internationally, not just Europe, but also internationally. It will win not only on the battlefield, but also on public opinion courts around the world,” said Professor Sipamandra Zondi, a political analyst at the University of Johannesburg.
For South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, visits are equally important as his country is under pressure from the Trump administration.
“The US has turned diplomacy to its head,” Gutz said. “Everyone is looking for new friends,” he added.
Ramaphosa sees Zelensky’s visit as an attempt to increase his qualifications as a peace director, and says their speech will focus on efforts to find a “path to peace.”
The South African leader added that he and Putin had a phone conversation before Zelensky’s visit.
“We both identified strong bilateral relationships between our respective countries,” Ramaphosa said in a post on X.
“We have also committed to working together to a peaceful resolution of the Russian-Ukraine conflict,” he added.
Ramaphosa was first attempted to take on the role of peace overseer in 2023 when he led a delegation of African leaders to both Kiev and Moscow to mediate the end of the conflict.
The initiative came as South Africa faced backlash from then-US President Joe Biden’s administration.
Relations worsened after accusing then-Africa of supplying Russia with weapons and ammunition from Washington’s then Ambassador to Pretoria.
Ramaphosa later appointed a judge-led investigation to investigate the allegations. Although no evidence was found to support the ambassador’s claims, relations between South Africa and the Biden administration remained tense.
South Africa’s relations with Russia were not a painful point for Trump.
But Trump’s relationship with South Africa has reached the bottom of the rocks throughout the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with “immoral practices” against the white Africannell community – allegedly Ramaphosa’s government denies.
Professor Zondi said South Africa must ensure that Ramaphosa talks with Zelensky do not undermine attempts to correct ties with the Trump administration.
“South Africa would want to explain that it is increasing efforts to build peace, and its role is not a competition for [the] We,” he added.
Analysts said that with South Africa’s economy in crisis, with low growth and high unemployment, Ramaphosa hopes to focus on strengthening trade ties with Ukraine.
“No matter how small, trade volume is important for South Africa,” he said, adding that strong relations between the two countries could also benefit Ukraine in their efforts to expand its impact on the continent.
“South Africa could be the gateway to Ukraine’s Africa due to its ports and financial system,” Professor Zondi said.
If this happens, it does not necessarily mean that Russia is sacrificing it, but it marks a new chapter in relations between Ukraine and Africa.
“Russia and Ukraine are both the biggest exporters of grain to Africa. Africa needs both. You can’t expect to choose the side,” the analyst said.
