Question NW1131 to the President of the Republic
08 April 2025 - NW1131
Trollip, Mr A to ask the President of the Republic
(1) What is the official agenda for the scheduled state visit of the President of Ukraine, Mr V O Zelenskyy, on 10 April 2025, including (a) key discussion points and (b) planned engagements; (2) what role does the Government envision for itself in any current and/or future peace processes between Ukraine and Russia, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; (3) (a) how does the specified visit align with the Republic’s long-standing position of so-called non-alignment and (b) what specific outcomes does the Government seek to achieve from the specified engagements?
Reply:
The President of Ukraine, Mr Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to pay a Working Visit to South Africa on 24 April 2025. The official programme for the Working Visit is yet to be finalised.
South Africa’s continues to encourage all the parties to strengthen all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, and to work towards an inclusive, sustainable and peaceful solution based on cooperation and dialogue.
Given our history, South Africa believes that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only path to a sustainable and peaceful resolution of the conflict. South Africa continues to maintain the position that this conflict should be settled through negotiation and by diplomatic means. South Africa is a participant in the Africa Peace Initiative, which has enabled our country to engage both sides of the conflict.
The Working Visit by President Zelenskyy will focus on strengthening bilateral relations through political engagement and identifying new areas of cooperation.