Ramaphosa Urges Unconditional Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks During Zelenskiy Visit

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia to begin without any preconditions, including the controversial idea of Ukraine ceding territory to Moscow. His remarks came during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Pretoria on Thursday—his first to an African country—cut short due to a deadly missile and drone assault on Kyiv that killed at least eight people.

Ramaphosa emphasized that negotiations should take place with "no preconditions," drawing on South Africa's own history of dialogue during the end of apartheid. “I shared our own experience and said that negotiations must not be bound by red lines before they even begin,” he stated.

Zelenskiy, seeking broader international backing amid intensifying criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, reaffirmed that ceasefire conditions must precede any substantive talks. Trump had recently criticized Zelenskiy for refusing to recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea as part of a potential peace deal.

South Africa has maintained a position of non-alignment in the Ukraine conflict, despite strong ties with Russia through the BRICS economic bloc. Ramaphosa reiterated that sensitive territorial issues should be addressed at the negotiating table, not beforehand.

This diplomatic exchange followed Ramaphosa’s recent separate calls with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing conflict. Ramaphosa and Zelenskiy have previously met in Kyiv during a 2023 African-led peace initiative, which ultimately failed to yield progress.

Zelenskiy’s shortened trip underscores the war’s intensity as Ukraine continues to seek global support, particularly from nations in the Global South. His visit aimed to balance diplomatic outreach with urgent domestic concerns amid Russia’s escalating attacks.