MK Party to protest Zelensky’s upcoming state visit
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party says it will protest against the state visit to South Africa of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He is expected to visit South Africa in April.
Zelensky has led Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s invasion for over three years, a war that has claimed thousands of lives.
His upcoming visit is part of South Africa’s ongoing peace efforts aimed at bringing both Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table.
However, MK Party Secretary General Floyd Shivambu has slammed the visit, calling Zelensky a “puppet president.”
"The MK Party strongly condemns President Ramaphosa’s misguided decision to invite Volodymyr Zelensky, a figure widely discredited among progressive and non-aligned nations," said Shivambu during a media briefing on Friday.
He said the MK Party viewed the visit as “a clear alignment with European imperial interests” and a betrayal of South Africa’s historical stance of non-alignment and anti-imperialism.
"Accordingly, the party has resolved to formally oppose Zelensky’s visit. We will organise counter-demonstrations to express our solidarity with the Russian Federation and to denounce NATO-led militarism, Western proxy wars, and global imperialism,” he added.
Zelensky’s visit follows a tense meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump last week, which ended with the temporary suspension of over $1 billion in U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
The move sparked concern across Europe, prompting leaders to explore alternative support options.
South Africa’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war has evolved since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
President Ramaphosa has repeatedly called for peace talks and engaged both sides diplomatically—meeting with Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos and participating in the African Peace Initiative.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Zelensky’s visit was part of continued efforts to push for peace.
"President Ramaphosa remains committed to a peaceful resolution. The visit is the result of ongoing engagements between Ramaphosa, Zelensky, and President Putin,” said Magwenya.
"We believe this war cannot be won on the battlefield—it must be resolved through dialogue and negotiation. That’s the only path to lasting peace.”
Magwenya also confirmed that Ramaphosa had recently met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the G20 summit and had informed him about Zelensky’s upcoming visit.
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