Ramaphosa secured commitments from both Russia and Ukraine for a ceasefire, while reopening dialogue with Trump amid strained US-SA relations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has won a double jackpot – to get US President Donald Trump to agree to meet him soon to improve the soured relations between the two countries and to get both Ukraine and Russia to commit to a ceasefire.
The two leaders had an early morning cross-Atlantic conversation about the visit to South Africa of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, touching on both bilateral SA-US issues and the need for the war in Ukraine to come to an end.
However, it’s unclear whether Trump would be the one visiting, or if Ramaphosa would travel to Washington to iron out their differences.
Trump thaw signals diplomatic opening for SA
South Africa is under the strain of US sanctions, with Trump withdrawing aid to the country, accusing it of violating the rights of Afrikaners, including grabbing their land and allegations of white genocide in the country.
But international relations expert Jan Venter from North West University said that Trump agreed to hold talks with Ramaphosa indicates his bullying tactics have reached a dead-end.
“This might be a return to some kind of realism. It is an opportunity for SA to make a deal to benefit especially economically from the US,” Venter said.
However, Ramaphosa himself would have liked to make a deal with Trump, but pressure from his opponents inside and outside the ANC, was massive, he said.
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Ukraine visit and global peace positioning
It’s going to be very difficult for him to convince the ANC alliance partners, who are opposed to Zelensky visit.
Zelensky reiterated during a media briefing at the Union Buildings that he wanted an unconditional ceasefire with Russia.
Ramaphosa said his call to Trump was not prompted by Zelensky’s visit, but he had been in discussion with Trump and yesterday’s telephone call was not the first.
“The call between myself and President Trump was long in the making. We had a call in January and this is the second call,” Ramaphosa said.
He said he also had a telephone conversation earlier with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who also committed to a ceasefire and ultimate an end to the war.
Focus on trade, peace, and long-term diplomacy
Ramaphosa said Zelensky’s unconditional ceasefire commitment “should be seen in positive light” and it gave a good hope about the prospects towards the end of the war.
The focus should first be on ceasefire and then for negotiation on issues such as if Ukraine should cede territories to Russia.
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Zelensky said one of the discussion points was the need to achieve an unconditional ceasefire: “An unconditional ceasefire is what I agree to, it is up to Moscow to make a decision.”
According to Venter, Zelensky did not have many options now.
“Zelensky is fighting a difficult war. He is almost on his own trying to combat the Russian influence in the world – travelling around the world trying to put forth the Ukrainian point of convincing countries that are seen to be aligned to Russia to soften their stance towards Ukraine.
Deals ‘behind closed doors’
“But I wonder what deals were made behind closed doors during his visit because I don’t think Zelensky left empty-handed,” Venter said.
Ramaphosa visited Ukraine as part of the Africa Peace Initiative to Ukraine on 16 June 2023, a move that kick-started the country’s role in the process.
Ramaphosa, in his latest discussions with Zelensky, said they also dealt with bilateral relations, including the expansion of cooperation in the areas of trade, agriculture, education, infrastructure and energy.
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