Ceasefire still far away as Zelensky cuts short South African trip over Russian deadly attacks

There was some hope before today’s meeting that South Africa would extend a symbolic gesture to Ukraine, like inviting it to the G20 summit later this year, which South Africa is hosting, BBC reports.

Some analysts believed it would be a sign of further rapprochement between the two countries, but that invitation never came.

The fact that Zelensky is on South African soil may be seen by some to be a good enough sign of thawing relations between the two countries, given South Africa and other African nations have refused to take sides in the war.

Instead, President Ramaphosa reiterated his country’s commitment to speaking to all parties in the conflict and its expertise in negotiating settlements, following the end of the apartheid regime. Ramaphosa also wouldn’t be drawn on whether Ukraine should secede territory to Russia.

He also claimed a call he had with President Trump yesterday wasn’t tied to Zelensky’s visit, adding that the call had been months in the planning.

For his part, Zelensky was also unwilling to depart from his red lines, reiterating that there could be no talk of compromise without a complete ceasefire, and that the fact that Ukraine was willing to sit at the negotiating table when it was Russia that started the war, was compromise enough.

On Washington’s involvement in securing a peace deal, Ramaphosa says that the US, as well as other countries like China, Brazil and those on the African continent, all have an important role to play.

“We would urge every one to continue playing a role as peace is important,” he says and with that the press briefing ends.

We’ll bring you a recap soon so stick with us.

Ramaphosa next responds to a question on whether Ukraine should be prepared concede territory.

He responds that that is something that amounts to a “precondition” and adds that Ukraine’s commitment to an unconditional ceasefire sets a “positive tone”.

Once a ceasefire is in place “everything can be discussed”.

After their speeches, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are asked by journalists about the role of the US in peace negotiations.

A South African reporter asks both of them whether they think a ceasefire is possible.

In response, Ramaphosa says the US, Europe and the African continent would be willing and prepared to play a productive role.

“We are involved in ensuring that there is a peace process that is effective between the two countries,” he says.

Zelensky says that he hopes the US can be a guarantor of a ceasefire, adding that he doesn’t want to see “another frozen conflict”.

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