Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in South Africa overnight for an official state visit, marking a significant diplomatic engagement as the war in Ukraine continues to draw global attention.

Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa later today at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the seat of South Africa’s government. According to a statement from the South African presidency, the two leaders will discuss “areas of cooperation with the objective to support efforts to bring lasting peace.”

The timing of the visit is notable, coming just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump commented that Zelenskyy was prolonging the conflict by refusing to relinquish Crimea a region illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 as part of a potential peace settlement. The remarks have stirred fresh debate over international approaches to ending the war.

President Zelenskyy’s visit underscores Kyiv’s ongoing efforts to secure broader international support, particularly from countries in the Global South. South Africa, a key member of BRICS and a vocal proponent of multilateralism, has previously called for peaceful dialogue and has taken a more neutral stance in the conflict, occasionally drawing criticism from Western allies.

The South African presidency noted that today’s talks will also explore future economic and diplomatic cooperation between the two nations.

This is President Zelenskyy’s first visit to the African continent since the war began in February 2022, signaling a strategic shift in Ukraine’s global outreach as it seeks allies beyond its traditional Western backers.

Further updates on the outcomes of the meeting are expected following the leaders’ joint press briefing later today.