Ukrainian President Will Fly Far To South Africa Galang Support After Being Left Behind By Trump

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold talks in South Africa with President Cyril Ramaphosa on April 10.

This was done by Zelenskyy as he tried to gain international support after the US stopped all military aid.

South Africa seeks to project itself as an impartial party in Ukraine's war but has good relations with Russia, with the two countries joining the BRICS developing economy group - which also includes China, India, Brazil, and other countries - which are trying to challenge the Western-dominated economic order.

South Africa refused to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine three years ago and abstain from a UN-resolution vote on the war.

"The visit is a continuation of the ongoing engagement carried out by President Ramaphosa with President Putin and President Zelenskyy regarding an inclusive process that will provide a way for peace between Russia and Ukraine," South Africa's Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya told Reuters on Friday, March 7.

The US Ambassador to South Africa in 2023 accused South Africa of sending weapons to Russia that violated its defenses. Recent investigations found no evidence that Russian ships had amassed weapons from naval bases near Cape Town.

Zelenskyy's planned visit to South Africa comes at a crucial time in the war, following his feud with Donald Trump at the White House last week and the US president's decision to stop Washington's military aid to Kyiv.

Trump has stepped up efforts to end the war as well as to improve US relations with Russia, which prompted European leaders on Thursday to support plans to spend more on defense and reaffirm their determination to support Ukraine.