Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested a possible link between Russia’s attack on Kyiv and his visit to South Africa, due to the timing and intensity of the assault.
Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Kyiv, involving missiles and drones, which resulted in at least eight deaths. Around 70 other civilians were left injured.
Zelenskyy — who visited the country to strengthen diplomatic ties and discuss peace efforts — has emphasized the need for global action to stop such strikes. He also decided to cut his trip short to return to Ukraine and address the crisis directly.
It is an honor for me to be in the Republic of South Africa today on my first visit. This morning, our country endured another Russian attack — a massive one, with over 200 aerial threats: missiles, including ballistic ones, and attack drones. Unfortunately, there have been… pic.twitter.com/cu4lKloOKp
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2025
“I think to link it to my visit to South Africa, I wouldn’t do it but surely Putin doesn’t like Ukraine’s presence in Africa and surely he doesn’t want Ukraine to build any good, primarily humane, also economic relations with countries on your continent. Russia has always tried, not just on the African continent but also on other continents, America, everywhere practically, they’ve been trying to be exclusively present,” Zelenskyy stated.
READ MORE: Zelenskyy called back to Ukraine, after short stay in SA
During the joint media briefing, Ramaphosa immediately responded to what the state leader had to say.
“Every act of war is horrible. It is awful and I would not attribute the attacks that happened in Kyiv to president Zelenskyy’s visit here, because a war manifests itself in many ways and at any time and that is why we are calling for an end to this war,” Ramaphosa said.
