South Africa has emphasized that any negotiations to end Russia’s nearly three-year war in Ukraine must include all parties, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares for a state visit in the near future.
President Cyril Ramaphosa invited Zelensky for discussions following widespread criticism of Russia and the United States for engaging in negotiations without the involvement of Ukraine or its European allies.
G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting and US Absence
The war in Ukraine was a central topic at South Africa’s first G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, which concluded on Friday. However, the absence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has accused Pretoria of an “anti-American agenda,” overshadowed the discussions. The United States was represented only by a deputy chief of mission from its embassy.
Despite speculation about a US boycott of the event, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola denied such claims. “There was no boycott. They were here. They participated,” he told reporters at the final briefing.
Additionally, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced he would not attend the upcoming G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Cape Town next week.
South Africa’s Neutral Stance and Push for Peace
While South Africa has claimed neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it has faced criticism for allegedly leaning toward Moscow. President Ramaphosa met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other diplomats on the G20 sidelines.
Ramaphosa posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he and Zelensky agreed on “the urgent need for an inclusive peace process that involves all parties.” South Africa remains committed to facilitating dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, he added.
Zelensky, in response, expressed gratitude for South Africa’s support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. We all hope to achieve a just and lasting peace this year,” Zelensky stated.
G20 Meeting Highlights Growing Global Divisions
South Africa is the first African nation to hold the rotating G20 presidency, and Ramaphosa used the platform to call for multilateral cooperation amid growing global tensions.
The official summary of the G20 foreign ministers’ discussions highlighted “widening geopolitical divisions” that have led to a climate of distrust, hampering progress on poverty, climate change, pandemics, nuclear proliferation, and armed conflicts.
Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to “just peace” efforts in Ukraine, the Palestinian territories, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They also underscored the importance of upholding international humanitarian and human rights laws.
Ramaphosa set the tone for the upcoming G20 summit in November, stressing the need for global unity:
“The principles of the UN Charter, multilateralism, and international law should remain at the center of all our endeavors. It should be the glue that keeps us together,” he stated.