The presidency has confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be in the country next month. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the visit is to accelerate the process that would lead to peace talks.

PEACE

Magwenya confirmed this to Mail & Guardian's and said: "It is true; President Zelensky will be visiting South Africa on the 10th of April. The visit is a continuation of ongoing engagements held by President Ramaphosa with President Vladimir Putin and President Zelensky on an inclusive peace process that will provide a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine," Magwenya said. "To look at removing whatever barriers there are to the commencement of those peace talks."

THANKFUL

Zelensky wrote in a post on social media that he spoke with Ramaphosa and thanked him for South Africa's support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "It is important that our countries share the same position: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. We all hope to achieve just and lasting peace this year. South Africa's voice matters, and we count on its support." He confirmed they spoke regularly after South Africa took a non-aligned stance on the Russia- Ukraine conflict, which started in February 2022.

DISCUSSIONS

Ukrainian officials said that on 20 January, Pretoria invited Zelensky to visit South Africa, but discussions had not been concluded. However, Presidents Ramaphosa and Zelensky later met and spoke at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, about a potential visit to South Africa.