Zelensky discusses preparation for Global Peace Summit with President of South Africa

“President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa. The Head of State thanked his counterpart for visiting Bucha and Kyiv as part of the African delegation in June this year and for his efforts to return Ukrainian children illegally deported by Russia,” the President’s Office informs.

The interlocutors praised the results of the meeting at the level of national security advisors and political advisors to the leaders of the countries held in Copenhagen. The President of Ukraine thanked for the presence of the South African representative at that meeting and invited him to take part in the next meeting, which is currently being prepared.

The leaders of Ukraine and South Africa also discussed preparations for the Global Peace Summit and the necessary diplomatic steps to consolidate African support for Ukraine.

The parties noted the importance of extending the "grain corridor" in the Black Sea. Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited South Africa to join the Ukrainian humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine.

As reported, on May 16, South African President Ramaphosa announced a peace initiative to end Russia's war against Ukraine, which African countries were supposed to propose.

According to him, the delegation of heads of African states was to visit Moscow and Kyiv in order to present the peace plan.

In June, Ramaphosa visited Ukraine as part of the African peacekeeping mission. On the day when the president of South Africa arrived in Ukraine, Russia launched another missile attack.