Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky abruptly ended his official visit to South Africa on Wednesday following a devastating overnight Russian missile and drone assault on Kyiv, which killed at least nine people and injured over 70 others.
Zelensky, who had been meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria to discuss Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, announced his immediate return to Kyiv after the attack, which marked one of the most severe assaults on the Ukrainian capital in recent months.
During their meeting, Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s commitment to facilitating peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing the need for negotiations without preconditions. Zelensky expressed gratitude for South Africa’s support and highlighted the importance of including all parties in the peace process.
The sudden escalation in Kyiv underscored the fragility of the situation and the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Zelensky’s visit to South Africa was part of a broader campaign to garner international support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As Zelensky departed Pretoria, he reaffirmed Ukraine’s stance against territorial concessions and called for increased global pressure on Russia to cease hostilities. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister will continue diplomatic engagements in South Africa in Zelensky’s absence.