PRESIDENT ZELENSKY’S REMARKS ON HIS STATE VISIT TO SA

“Today it is an honour for me to be on my first visit to your country, and even more so on the eve of Freedom Day. This is a holiday that reflects the main values of your people and connects us with you. Our desire for freedom, our desire for independence, for equality and respect are all values that are understood in all parts of the world.

We have been fighting for our freedom in a full-scale war for more than three years. We are fighting against the occupation of Russia, against the humiliation of our people, against any bullying of Ukraine and Ukrainians.

This morning, our country went through a new Russian attack – a very large-scale one. More than 200 air targets are missiles, including ballistic, and strike drones. Unfortunately, there is destruction and loss in our capital, in our other cities… In all regions of Ukraine. More than 80 people were injured by these blows. Today, unfortunately, there are dead people… In Kyiv, among the dead are a brother and sister, the boy was 21 years old, the girl was 19 years old. And my condolences to all who lost relatives, close people.

As I speak, rescue operations are still ongoing. Because of this Russian attack, I have decided to shorten the program of a visit to your beautiful country, but I leave our foreign minister to show our respect and conduct absolutely all the meetings that were planned, which are very important. And at the level of our ministers, and with opinion leaders, and also with the students of your country. We are grateful to you for your respect for Ukraine, for your support and the same feeling with us that this war should be completed as soon as possible.

This is the first thing we talked about with President Ramaphosa. When the President was on a visit to Ukraine, he told me – and these were very, I think, right words – that a ceasefire was needed. Unconditional ceasefire. I agreed and said in response that everything depends on Russia. It is in Moscow that they should make a decision on silence and give the necessary orders to their Russian army.

You know, this year on Easter there was an opportunity to cease fire. And we were absolutely ready for this and acted in a mirror, absolutely. They responded to the silence with silence, but they were protected from Russian attacks. Unfortunately, after Easter, Russia renewed assaults at the front and strikes on our cities, our villages, and civilian infrastructure.

Today we talked with the President about how important it is that global efforts are now as united as possible and that there should be pressure on Russia to end the war. Pressure for peace. We also talked about opportunities at the G20 level. South Africa now presides over the G-20, and the role of the G20 countries may be much greater in the defence of life. And we are very much counting on it.

Of course, a bilateral agenda is very important. Ukraine has significant power in guaranteeing energy security, and in such industries as fertiliser production. We also have good results in safety production and technologies. All this can be the subject of our joint work with partners. We are ready to work together with South Africa to build in your country more necessary production facilities for modern and sustainable energy, more new export opportunities.

Ukraine offers South Africa to create such a joint “mineral hub” – a hub for the production and transportation of fertilisers, which will support your entire region. And there is significant potential in the agro-industrial sector. Our joint projects in agriculture and other industries can increase bilateral trade between Ukraine and South Africa.

We are ready to work together to create modern security systems, in particular at facilities like your national parks and cities. New technological steps on our part. We are ready to talk about it.

We can also work together to significantly increase electricity generation in your country: from nuclear to renewable energy. Affordable cheap energy always helps economic growth. I have instructed our government officials to work out in detail every possible joint project between our countries.

And one more thing.

Today I handed President Ramaphosa a list of 400 Ukrainian children, and this is very important for us who are now in Russia against their will. Unfortunately, because of the war, we have this terrible problem – the Russians kidnapped tens of thousands of children in Ukraine, on the occupied territory. We have to get everyone back. And just like thousands of prisoners – military and civilian – who have been held in Russian prisons for years. They are kept in inhumane conditions. South Africa is a co-leader in the global coalition for the return of Ukrainian children. I very much hope that President Ramaphosa will help us get them back.

Thanks again for this visit. Thank you for the opportunity, for our meeting. And we strongly believe that the President, South Africa, and other partners in Africa will help stop Russia and force Putin to support a regime of a complete unconditional ceasefire.

Thank you! Glory to Ukraine!”