Article: “Strengthening ties between Ukraine and South Africa: Promising cooperation”
Nearly five months after the peace mission to Ukraine and Russia led by a delegation of African heads of state, including Cyril Ramaphosa, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba visited Pretoria to discuss strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and South Africa.
Despite the media attention given to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Dmytro Kuleba emphasizes that his visit to Africa is not opportunistic, but the result of long preparation work. According to him, Ukraine does not lack attention at the global level, even if media space is limited. On the political level, interest in Ukraine is very present.
The Ukrainian minister also highlighted the importance of the peace mission last June, where Cyril Ramaphosa played a crucial role in inviting African leaders to participate in the talks. This initiative allowed South Africa to join the talks sessions, sending a strong signal that all countries can contribute to the search for peace.
For her part, South African Minister Naledi Pandor welcomed the position of her country, which remains non-aligned and can thus play a mediating role between Ukraine and Russia. She also encouraged Ukraine to strengthen its efforts in Africa, including opening embassies in countries such as Ghana, Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Botswana and Rwanda.
This visit to South Africa therefore marks a new stage in the strengthening of ties between Ukraine and Africa. By opening new embassies and intensifying diplomatic exchanges, Ukraine is seeking to bring together as many participants as possible for its future world peace summit. This promising cooperation between the two countries could also open up new perspectives in other areas such as the economy, culture and education.
In conclusion, this visit by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister to South Africa is a strong sign of Ukraine’s commitment to strengthening its ties with the African continent. A promising cooperation is emerging, which could contribute to the search for peace and the establishment of lasting partnerships between the two countries.