Zelensky cuts short South Africa visit after Russian attack on Kyiv

Ukraine President Volodimir Zelinski canceled part of his first visit to South Africa after overnight Russian missiles on a drone on the capital of Ukraine Kiev.

at least Nine people were killed Local officials said more than 80 injuries, including children, were in the attack.

Zelinski said in a post on X that he will return to Ukraine “immediately” after meeting his counterpart in South Africa, Cyril Ramavusa as part of his journey to intensify diplomatic efforts.

He added that the rescue operations were continuing in the wake of the night attack and there was “great destruction.”

“44 days have passed since Ukraine has agreed to a full ceasefire and a hiatus,” he continued, referring to a previous agreement between the United States and Ukraine in March due to the proposed temporary ceasefire. “The strikes should stop immediately and without restriction or condition.”

Zelinski’s visit to South Africa is a diplomatic breakthrough for Ukrainian leader in his efforts to confront Russia’s growing influence in Africa.

The visit of the state was not imagined only two years ago, when President Ramavusa led a delegation of African leaders to Kiev on a self -designed peace mission.

At that time, South Africa’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a source of frustration with Kiev.

But the geopolitical scene has changed mainly since that meeting, and the two countries now have many common denominators.

Both find themselves at odds with Washington.

The United States was one of Ukraine’s closest allies until Donald Trump was re -elected in November. Now Ukraine is keen to expand a group of international partners – especially in Africa, where many countries have strong ties with Russia.

South Africa also suffered tense ties with Washington, which expelled its ambassador and removed aid financing.

South Africa says its insecure position puts it in a major position to help throw a peace agreement with Russia.

On Wednesday, Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of harming peace negotiations, after Zelinski said that Kiev would not recognize Russian control of the Crimea.

Ukraine has long said that it will not abandon the Crimea, a southern peninsula that Russia illegally included in 2014.

Trump claimed that a deal to end the war was “very close”, but Zelensky’s refusal to accept the American conditions “will do nothing but prolong” the conflict.

Earlier, the US Vice President JD Vance put the American vision of a deal, saying it “will freeze the regional lines […] Close to their place today. ”

He said that the deal means that Ukraine and Russia “will have to abandon some of the lands they currently own” – without specifying the geographical concessions that must be made.

When the White House reporters were asked whether the administration was looking to recognize Russian sovereignty on the Crimea, Trump said he only wanted to see the end of the war.

The awareness of the occupation of the Crimea in Russia will not only be a political impossible to accept Zelinski, but will also be contrary to international legal standards after the war that the borders should not be changed by force.