Breaking: Zelenskyy Rushes Back Home After Deadly Russian Attack on Kyiv
Kyiv suffers deadly Russian attack, prompting Zelenskyy to abruptly end South Africa visit
The vibrant vibe of Pretoria was short-lived as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy abruptly returned to his war-torn homeland following a brutal overnight attack on Kyiv.
Hours after his arrival in South Africa, where he had hoped to bring a just peace closer, Zelenskyy decided to cut his visit short. The sudden departure was prompted by a devastating Russian missile and drone strike, which left nine lives extinguished and more than 70 injured in Ukraine's capital.
Initially, Zelenskyy met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria to discuss potential mediation efforts. Ramaphosa, with his connections to both Ukraine and Russia via the BRICS bloc, was seen as a possible catalyst for peace negotiations. However, as the situation escalated, Zelenskyy opted to steer his focus back to Kyiv.
Ramaphosa has not shied away from engaging with both parties, speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. Both leaders expressed a mutual commitment to working towards a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Ramaphosa also conversed with US President Donald Trump about Moscow's war in Ukraine, but it remains uncertain whether these talks have yielded any promising outcomes.
The US has been pressuring for swift progress in the negotiations, with the likes of Marco Rubio warning that Washington may abandon its pursuit of peace if satisfactory progress is not made soon.
In response to Zelenskyy's resolute stance against ceding Russian-occupied Crimea, Trump admonished the Ukrainian president, accusing him of fueling the conflict's prolongation.
Despite the increased tension, Ramaphosa continues to advocated for a comprehensive ceasefire, positioning South Africa as a potential bridge between the two nations.
- Related:
- Ukraine will have to make some compromises in Russia peace talks, Polish President Andrzej Duda says
- Ceasefire in Ukraine: High-level talks in London downgraded as Rubio skips meeting
- Polish diplomat slams Russia's invasion of Ukraine: 'Don't you have enough land?'
Cyril Ramaphosa | South Africa | Volodymyr Zelenskyy | War in Ukraine
- In the face of the intense Russian attack on Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Pretoria engaging with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on potential mediation efforts, abruptly returned to his home country.
- A WhatsApp message was allegedly shared by Zelenskyy, expressing his disappointment and frustration over the shortcuts taken by some politicians during the war-and-conflicts discourse, particularly in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- The unexpected return of Zelenskyy from Pretoria to Kyiv prompted several news outlets to question the effectiveness of South Africa's role in facilitating peace in the ongoing war-in-Ukraine, given the recent General News of escalating hostilities.
- Amidst diplomatic talks and international pressures, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has been actively engaging with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump regarding the Ukraine conflict, has rebuked both leaders for not doing enough to bring about a lasting peace and sought to champion mediation efforts amidst the general-news of renewed hostilities.
