Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on both Ukraine and Russia to commit to a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire, paving the way for meaningful dialogue and negotiations between the two nations. The President emphasised that South Africa stands ready to continue to support all credible and inclusive multilateral efforts aimed at achieving a just, sustainable, and comprehensive peace.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed a media briefing at the Union Buildings following official talks. President Zelenskyy, who had to cut his visit short due to an overnight attack in his country, was in South Africa on his first official visit. This engagement follows President Ramaphosa’s visit to Ukraine in June 2023 as part of the African Peace Initiative, which also saw African leaders meeting with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to table a 10-point peace proposal.
President Ramaphosa highlighted that South Africa’s journey from apartheid to democracy has taught the nation the value of engaging all parties in a conflict to achieve peaceful, just, and lasting solutions. He stated, “If there is one thing that our history has taught us, it is that diplomacy and dialogue are more powerful than any weapon that anyone can use.”
Answering a question on whether Ukraine may need to cede part of its territory to Russia, President Ramaphosa said he views this as a precondition; however, the focus should be on Ukraine’s commitment to an unconditional ceasefire, which is seen as a positive step for negotiations. “An unconditional ceasefire sets a very good and positive tone for negotiations to commence. It is a confidence-building measure that should be a key ingredient in a negotiation process,” he said.
During the media engagement, President Ramaphosa also mentioned his conversation with United States President Donald Trump about the peace process in Ukraine, where they both agreed on the urgency of ending the war to prevent further death and destruction. They also agreed to meet soon to discuss relations between South Africa and the United States.
Earlier in the week, President Ramaphosa communicated with President Vladimir Putin, where they both committed to working towards a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. President Zelenskyy extended his gratitude to South Africa, highlighting the shared understanding that the war needs to end as soon as possible was a key focus during discussions with President Ramaphosa.
President Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for a ceasefire but was forced to defend itself in the face of Russian attacks. “Unfortunately, after that, Russia renewed its assaults on the front line, the strikes against the civilian infrastructure,” he said. Zelenskyy also expressed that his country has been fighting for its freedom in this full-scale war for more than three years.
Although he had to shorten his visit, Zelenskyy left his Foreign Minister to attend all the planned meetings, continuing the diplomatic efforts in South Africa.