The government has dismissed criticism of its decision to host Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy when he’s increasingly isolated globally.
The Presidency said Zelenskyy’s state visit to South Africa in April was not just meant to help facilitate peace talks with Russia but also part of a process of possibly forging closer ties with the Eastern European country.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said during a media briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday that the government was looking beyond the conflict also reminding critics that for some time South Africa was the only country able to easily talk to Zelenskyy and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The concerns domestically come as the US, a long standing ally and sponsor of Ukraine in the war changed tune forcing Zelenskyy to compromise to end the war and to sign away his country’s mineral resources as payback for billions of dollars he received the US.
The change in attitude by Washington follows the takeover of the unpredictable Donald Trump who believes, the Joe Biden administration had negotiated poorly with the country’s perceived allies exploiting US generosity.
“We’ve been engaging President Zelenskyy for the past two years if not more and at some point, South Africa was one of one or two, maybe 3 countries that could speak to both President Zelenskyy and president Putin. The United States until president Trump did not have a channel or was not speak to President Putin and we were able to have conversations with both of them in terms of President Ramaphosa engaging with both of them so we see President Zelenskyy’s visit as a continuation of our efforts to try and bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. It will be disingenuous for us and for the President to suddenly discard or distance himself from any engagement with president Zelenskyy when all along president Ramaphosa was engaging with president Zelenskyy engaging a process to resolve that conflict,” said Magwenya emphasising that Ramaphosa had never stopped talking to Zelenskyy and that the difference is that this time their discussions will happen in South Africa.
Those opposed to Zelenskyy’s visit such as the South African Communist party and the Economic Freedom Fighters have labelled him a stooge of the west and worry that hosting him may antagonise Russia.
SACP national spokesperson Alex Mashilo said Zelenskyy was a self imposed leader who shouldn’t be entertained by South Africa.
“Zelenskyy’s controversially acquired term as Ukraine’s president has expired. The legitimacy of what’s called a state visit is therefore at best questionable and unacceptable.
He is not a liability because he is “outgoing” but because his term has ended and is unelected,” said Mashilo.
On Friday EFF leader Julius Malema told his party’s Sharpville Day rally in the Vaal that Zelenskyy is undesirable and should not be allowed to visit South Africa.
“We don’t want Zelenskyy to visit South Africa because he is a puppet of the West & Imperialist.
We will never stand with Ukraine. Zelenskyy is not welcome in South Africa,” said Malema.
Magwenya also dismissed the argument that Zelenskyy is fast becoming irrelevant insisting that world leaders continue to talk him and did not see why South Africa should not engage him.
“President Trump still talks to president Zelenskyy I saw there was a call and I expect to see a statement affirming that call between the two so why should we not talk to President Zelenskyy when everyone else still engages him,” said Magwenya.
He also dismissed concerns about the move possibly offending the Russian federation saying Moscow was taken into confidence by the trip.
“When Minister Lavrov ( Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov) was here for the G20 foreign ministers meeting the president received a curtosy call from him and they discussed the question of peace talks and they also discussed the fact that president Zelenskyy will be visiting South Africa. There’s been no issue or objection on the side of Russia to object to that visit because it is seen as a continuation of the engagements we have been having with both parties so it would not be suicidal in any fashion,” said Magwenya adding that South Africa remains none aligned and continues resist attempts to paint it as pro this or that. The DA has consistently accused the ANC government in the sixth administration of being too close to Russia.
Zelenskyy is expected in the South Africa in April.