Zelenskyy arrives on a visit to South Africa to meet with President Ramaphosa

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrive in South Africa. Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in South Africa for talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He announced this on the social network X.

«We are preparing for important meetings in South Africa with President Cyril Ramaphosa and representatives of political, civil and student communities in Africa. It is important to bring a decent peace closer. We are working to ensure that the G20 countries are involved in diplomatic efforts», Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote.

He added that Kyiv was counting on South Africa's effective participation in the international coalition to return thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

However, it later became known that after the Russian attack on Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy cancelled part of the visit programme. However, he will meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who holds the G20 presidency, to discuss the situation and Ukraine's need to intensify global diplomatic efforts.

«I am cancelling part of the programme of this visit and returning to Ukraine immediately after the meeting with the South African President. The strikes must stop immediately and unconditionally. We are also counting on assistance in humanitarian issues — in the return of our prisoners and Ukrainian children abducted by Russia», Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

As a reminder, on the night of 24 April, Kyiv suffered a massive combined attack by Russian troops. According to recent reports, 9 people were killed and 70 others were injured. Among the victims are six children and a pregnant woman.