Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has concluded a landmark diplomatic visit to South Africa, marking a significant thaw in relations between the two countries and reflecting Kyiv’s intensified push to gain ground in Africa’s complex geopolitical landscape. The visit, the first by a Ukrainian head of state in 33 years, was cut short after Russian airstrikes targeted Kyiv, prompting Zelensky to return home following a high-level meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Despite the abrupt end, analysts described the trip as a diplomatic breakthrough, as Ukraine seeks to counterbalance Russia’s deep and growing influence across Africa. The meeting symbolized a recalibration in Ukraine-South Africa ties, which had previously been strained by Pretoria’s neutral stance on Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky’s stop was also historic in another way—it marked his first official visit to the African continent since assuming office in 2019, aside from a 2023 stopover in Cape Verde.
“This visit reaffirmed the bonds between our two nations,” said President Ramaphosa, emphasizing the importance of diversifying South Africa’s international alliances at a time of increasing geopolitical polarization. Ukraine has rapidly expanded its diplomatic footprint in Africa, doubling its number of embassies from 10 to 20 since 2022. According to Steven Gruzd of the South African Institute of International Affairs, this pivot reflects Ukraine’s recognition of Africa’s pivotal role in shaping global diplomatic narratives. “Wars aren’t only won on battlefields, but in the court of global public opinion,” added political analyst Prof. Siphamandla Zondi from the University of Johannesburg.
However, Zelensky’s outreach comes amid waning Western support. Tensions with the United States have escalated since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Trump has paused military aid to Ukraine, accused Zelensky of warmongering, and described him as a “dictator,” significantly cooling what was once Ukraine’s strongest external alliance. At the same time, South Africa is facing its own diplomatic strain with the U.S., prompting Ramaphosa to seek new international partnerships. Gruzd noted, “The U.S. has turned diplomacy on its head. Everyone’s looking for new friends now.”
Zelensky’s visit is seen as a strategic move to court African neutrality or support, particularly from continental heavyweights like South Africa, as Ukraine seeks to isolate Moscow on the international stage. It also puts additional pressure on Russia, whose influence in Africa—via Wagner-linked security firms, energy deals, and diplomatic charm offensives—has surged in recent years. Despite Russian disruptions, Zelensky’s engagement with Africa marks a clear shift in Ukraine’s foreign policy, underscoring a broader, more globalized strategy to gain international legitimacy, attract allies, and shape the narrative of the war far beyond Europe.
