South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Thursday he had spoken to US President Donald Trump about the war in Ukraine, with both leaders agreeing on the urgent need to end the conflict and pledging to meet soon to rebuild strained relations between Pretoria and Washington.
‘I spoke to President Donald Trump to discuss the peace process in Ukraine,’ Ramaphosa announced on social media. ‘We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to stop further unnecessary deaths. We also agreed to meet soon to address various matters regarding US–South Africa relations.’
The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on his first visit to Africa, cut short a diplomatic trip to South Africa following overnight Russian airstrikes on Kyiv that killed at least nine people. ‘I will return to Ukraine immediately,’ Zelensky posted on social media, shortly after meeting Ramaphosa in Pretoria.
Pretoria pivots on Ukraine war
The high-level visit and diplomatic exchanges mark a significant shift in South Africa’s approach to the war in Ukraine. After months of maintaining a non-aligned position and facing criticism over its warm ties with Moscow, Pretoria voted for the first time last month in favour of a UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion.
Ramaphosa’s outreach to Zelensky follows months of pressure to clarify South Africa’s stance amid growing international polarisation over the war. Historical links between the ruling African National Congress and Moscow—cemented during the anti-apartheid era—have long shaped Pretoria’s cautious position.
Ramaphosa invited Zelensky in February, just as relations with the United States were nosediving. President Trump had recently accused Pretoria of an ‘anti-white’ land policy and offered asylum to Afrikaner minorities, while also questioning Ukraine’s role in peace negotiations.
G20 flashpoints and diplomacy
Zelensky’s brief visit was also seen as a strategic bid to secure a spot at the G20 summit South Africa is hosting in November. But Trump has hinted he may skip the event entirely, criticising what he calls South Africa’s anti-Western posture.
‘Is this where we want to be for the G20? I don’t think so!’ Trump wrote on social media earlier this month.
A spokesperson for Ramaphosa responded dismissively, saying: ‘We were no longer expecting him to attend in any case.’
Tensions escalated further after South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza—an action Trump condemned and which ultimately led to the expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador from Washington last month.
Walking a diplomatic tightrope
Still, Ramaphosa continues to pursue what he describes as a balanced diplomatic approach. On Monday, just days before Zelensky’s visit, the South African president held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reaffirming their ‘strong bilateral relations’ and describing Russia as a ‘precious friend’.
‘South Africa will continue engaging all interested and affected parties, including the government of Ukraine, on finding a path to peace,’ Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement.
Pretoria believes its post-apartheid transition model gives it a unique voice in peace-building efforts—one that can bridge divides rather than deepen them. But with the stakes rising and allegiances hardening, that middle ground may become harder to hold.
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