Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to Reinforce Diplomatic Ties in South Africa Amidst Tension

Ukraine's diplomatic engagements continue to deepen as its new Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, gears up for a significant visit to South Africa. This weekend marks a pivotal step towards strengthening bilateral relations, with Sybiha scheduled to meet his South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, and possibly President Cyril Ramaphosa, during the two-day visit starting on October 27, 2024.

Sybiha, succeeding Dmytro Kuleba after a cabinet reshuffle by President Volodymyr Zelensky, aims to engage in extensive discussions with top South African officials. His meetings are set to embrace dialogues with the business community, key experts, as well as the Ukrainian diaspora, as stated by his office.

The agenda is poised to center around Ukraine’s peace efforts, building on the groundwork of a previous conversation with Minister Lamola where support for Ukraine's sovereignty and the Zelenskyy #Peace Formula were highlighted. The visit underscores an ongoing diplomatic drive, which was initiated by Kuleba's historical visit in November 2023 to South Africa.

While South Africa has maintained a stance upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty amidst the conflict with Russia, some discord has surfaced due to South Africa's abstention from condemning Russia’s aggression in UN resolutions. Nevertheless, the chill in relations experienced a thaw following Ramaphosa’s bilateral engagements with both Ukraine and Russia in 2023.

Sybiha's visit is perceived as a strategic step to capitalize on the relatively eased relations and to potentially lay the groundwork for an eventual visit by President Zelensky to South Africa. Reports suggest an agreement in principle for such a visit, though a date has not been confirmed.

Additionally, the timing of Sybiha’s visit comes amidst mixed feelings in Ukraine owing to recent images of President Ramaphosa and Russian President Vladimir Putin displaying amicable relations at the BRICS summit. The visit offers an opportunity for South Africa to demonstrate its diplomatic position and possibly amplify its role in global peace efforts.

Both countries anticipate that Sybiha's visit might present a platform to discuss Ukraine's proposal for South Africa to play a more prominent role in peace-building, an urgency felt by Ukraine as pressures mount in their ongoing conflict with Russia.