Raised due to deadly Russian strikes on kyiv, the visit is nonetheless historical. On Thursday, April 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, went to South Africa to meet his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa. A trip that marks the “Culminating point” Diplomatic exchanges “Florissants” Between the two countries, underlined the South African Foreign Ministry of Foreign.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Ramaphosa praised the “Links of friendship and solidarity” between the two countries, as well as “Significant advances” companies by Ukraine to strengthen its links with the African continent. He also reaffirmed the determination of Pretoria to serve as a mediator in the conflict in Ukraine, by calling for the conclusion of a cease-fire “Without conditions” preliminary to any negotiation, like the discussions that had enabled South Africa to “” [mettre] end at the apartheid nightmare ».
For the Ukrainian head of state, it is the first trip to Africa, apart from an express stopover in Cape Verde, in 2023. Since the start of the war, in February 2022, kyiv has completely revised his African policy in the hope of countering Russian influence. Ten new embassies have notably been opened on the continent, bringing their number to 20.
You have 70.84% of this article to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
Source: Lemonde