Summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cut short his inaugural visit to South Africa after a Russian missile and drone attack in Kyiv killed at least nine and injured over 80, prompting him to return home immediately post-meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa. The geopolitical landscape has shifted since South Africa’s prior neutrality, as both nations now share strained relations with Washington and seek to enhance diplomatic ties amid ongoing conflict. Zelensky’s refusal to concede Crimea remains a sticking point in potential peace negotiations, as US officials propose territorial compromises.
