Ramaphosa on a tightrope as pressure mounts on Zelensky

THE scheduled visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to South Africa this week was abruptly shortened following a devastating Russian attack on Kyiv. While presented as part of the African Peace Mission initiative and the country’s broader diplomatic engagements, the meeting came at a sensitive moment, defined by growing international calls for a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, even as certain Western powers appear determined to prolong the war.

- 

Since the outbreak of hostilities in 2022, South Africa has charted a careful and principled course rooted in impartiality, multilateralism and consensus building. Unlike the polarised positions of many Nato-aligned countries, South Africa consistently withstood the pressure to adopt simplistic binaries in an undeniably complex geopolitical conflict. The country’s approach has been shaped by the foundational values of the Non-Aligned Movement - emphasising neutrality, peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for diverse historical and political contexts.

South Africa consistently abstained from all UN General Assembly resolutions relating to the Ukraine war. The actions were not an endorsement of aggression but a recognition that peace cannot be achieved through partisan posturing. It was also a statement against the selective application of international law, wherein sovereignty is upheld in Ukraine but conveniently disregarded in other regions facing Western interventions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership further demonstrated South Africa's commitment to meaningful diplomacy. In June 2023, he spearheaded an unprecedented peace mission to Kyiv and Moscow, joined by a delegation of African heads of state. It was the first instance of African leaders undertaking a peace initiative outside the continent. The mission conveyed that Africa, long sidelined in global conflict resolution, was prepared to offer a credible alternative to militarised stalemates.