Zelenskiy, of Ukraine, will travel to South Africa in April for negotiations

President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Friday that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in South Africa on April 10 as the Ukrainian leader attempts to bolster international support following the U.S. halting all military aid.

Although South Africa and Russia are part of the BRICS group of emerging economies, which also includes China, India, Brazil, and others, and are attempting to disrupt the Western-dominated economic system, South Africa aims to portray itself as non-aligned on the conflict in Ukraine while maintaining positive ties with Russia.

The South African government has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions on the war and has not condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

“The visit is a continuation of ongoing engagements held by President Ramaphosa with President Putin and President Zelenskiy on an inclusive … process that will provide a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine,” spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said to Reuters.

According to the U.S. ambassador to South Africa in 2023, the nation violated its declared neutrality by supplying weaponry to Russia. No proof that a Russian ship had taken weapons from a naval installation close to Cape Town was discovered during an investigation.

With Zelenskiy’s public spat with Donald Trump in the White House last Friday and the U.S. president’s decision to stop Washington’s military assistance to Kyiv, the planned trip to South Africa comes at a critical juncture in the war.

Trump’s increased attempts to end the war and mend U.S. relations with Russia have led European leaders to support plans to increase defense spending and reiterate their commitment to supporting Ukraine on Thursday.