Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, has arrived in South Africa for a two-day visit to bolster diplomatic ties and foster support for Ukraine’s peace initiatives.
Sybiha’s trip to Johannesburg and Pretoria marks the final stop on his diplomatic tour across the Middle East and Africa.
During his visit, Andrii Sybiha will meet with South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, along with other senior officials and public leaders.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stated that the discussions will focus on enhancing Ukraine-South Africa cooperation and presenting Ukraine’s peace formula as a pathway to achieving lasting global stability.
The Ukrainian diplomat’s agenda also includes meetings with South African business leaders and academia.
Andrii Sybiha is set to engage with the research and teaching community at the University of Pretoria, highlighting collaboration opportunities beyond government diplomacy.
As Sybiha seeks to expand Ukraine’s influence in Africa, the peace formula remains a central point of discussion, especially with South Africa poised to chair the G20 in 2025.
Despite its declared neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, South Africa has continued to maintain economic and political ties with Moscow, a stance underscored by its BRICS membership alongside Russia and China.
Joint naval exercises between the three countries last year demonstrated South Africa’s balancing act on the international stage.
The South African visit follows Sybiha’s earlier stops in Oman, Angola, and Egypt. His predecessor, Dmytro Kuleba, made four diplomatic tours across Africa, reinforcing Kyiv’s growing focus on the Global South as it counters Russian influence in the region.
African and Middle Eastern nations remain major importers of Ukrainian agricultural goods, which Ukraine has continued to export despite challenges posed by Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea.
With South Africa as the largest economy in Africa, Sybiha’s visit underscores Ukraine’s commitment to nurturing diplomatic, economic, and educational exchanges as part of a broader strategy to solidify alliances and support Ukraine’s vision for peace.
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