Zelensky curtails visit to SA after massive Russian attack on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is cutting short his visit to South Africa to return to Kyiv because of a massive Russian missile attack on the capital which he said had killed nine people.

Zelensky touched down at Lanseria airport early on Thursday for the first visit to South Africa by a Ukrainian head of state and an official meeting with President Ramaphosa in Pretoria. He intended to stay all day in the country, meeting the local Ukrainian community and holding other meetings including with representatives of political, civil and student communities of African countries. He was also supposed to give a lecture at the University of Pretoria and visit Freedom Park.

But later he posted on X: “I am canceling part of the program for this visit and will return to Ukraine immediately after the meeting with the President of South Africa.” He added that his foreign minister would represent him at other meetings. 

“Today, I will brief President Ramaphosa of South Africa, who currently holds the G20 Presidency, on the situation and our need to intensify global diplomatic efforts. The strikes must be stopped immediately and unconditionally. We also count on support in humanitarian matters – in the return of our prisoners and Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

“It has been 44 days since Ukraine agreed to a full ceasefire and a halt to strikes. This was a proposal from the United States. And it has been 44 days of Russia continuing to kill our people and evading tough pressure and accountability for its actions. 

Read more: War in Ukraine

“It is extremely important that everyone around the world sees and understands what is really happening. Nearly 70 missiles, including ballistic ones. And about 150 attack drones. Unfortunately, there is significant destruction. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the rubble of residential buildings is being cleared. 

“As of this moment, over 80 people have been injured across Ukraine. Everyone is receiving the necessary assistance. Regrettably, 9 people have been killed in Kyiv. My condolences go out to their families and loved ones. There was a report from the military command. I instructed the Minister of Defense of Ukraine to immediately contact our partners regarding our requests to strengthen air defenses.” 

Earlier Zelensky had posted that he was preparing “for important meetings in South Africa with the President and representatives of political, civil and student communities of African countries”. It seems likely that he will now miss them, leaving them to foreign minister Andrii Sybiha.

Read more: Ramaphosa and Putin discuss war in phone call ahead of Zelensky’s visit to SA

Zelensky said: “It is crucial to bring a just peace closer. We are working to ensure that the G20 countries are actively engaged in diplomatic efforts. We count on South Africa’s meaningful participation in the International Coalition for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. We will also certainly strengthen our cultural and educational ties.”

It has been 44 days since Ukraine agreed to a full ceasefire and a halt to strikes. This was a proposal from the United States. And it has been 44 days of Russia continuing to kill our people and evading tough pressure and accountability for its actions.

It is extremely… pic.twitter.com/87CSHvsvqG

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2025

Although South Africa did agree in 2024 to contribute to international efforts with Qatar and the Vatican to try to secure the return of more than 19,000 abducted children, Pretoria has not, for some reason, joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. They were abducted and deported to Russia during the occupation of eastern and southern Ukraine. 

Read more: Zelensky to visit SA while US squeezes him to make concessions to Russia

Zelensky and his wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, arrived at Lanseria airport outside Johannesburg in the dark on Thursday, 24 April 2025. He was greeted by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and other officials as well as Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa, Liubov Abravitova.

A military guard lined the red carpet as Zelensky stepped from his jet onto South African soil for the first time. It is also his first visit as president to Africa. 

Zelensky was scheduled to arrive at the Union Buildings in Pretoria at 11am for his official meeting with Ramaphosa. 

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation said this first visit by a Ukrainian head of state to South Africa “follows on the visit to Ukraine by President Ramaphosa, as part of the Africa Peace Initiative to Ukraine on 16 June 2023”.

“The visit provides South Africa and Ukraine with an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, agriculture and education. It will also explore areas of cooperation with the objective to support efforts to bring lasting peace.”

It is understood that South African agricultural organisations are keen to make deals to import Ukrainian agricultural produce including wheat and fertiliser. Other areas of cooperation might include digital governance.

I spoke to President @DonaldTrump to discuss the peace process in Ukraine. We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to stop further unnecessary deaths.

We both agreed to meet soon to address various matters regarding US-South Africa relations.… pic.twitter.com/3TlYheuNgW

— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) April 24, 2025

Apart from the African Peace Initiative the department referred to, South Africa has been participating in Zelensky’s own international peace formula talks.

Zelensky arrives in South Africa at a moment when US President Donald Trump is putting pressure on him to accept a peace deal with Russia that would require Ukraine to give up the large swathes of its territory occupied by Russia and to abandon its ambitions to join Nato. 

Zelensky rejected the US plan flatly. “There is nothing to talk about,” he said. “This violated our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of Ukraine.”

Trump retorted on social media that the Ukrainian president was being “inflammatory” and said he would only “prolong the ‘killing field’”. DM