Zelenskyy partially cancels South Africa visit in wake of Russian airstrikes

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday that he has partially canceled the program of his South African visit due to Russian airstrikes the day before.

“As of this moment, over 80 people have been injured across Ukraine. Everyone is receiving the necessary assistance. Regrettably, 9 people have been killed in Kyiv. My condolences go out to their families and loved ones,” he wrote on X.

“Today, I will brief President [Cyril] Ramaphosa of South Africa, who currently holds the G20 Presidency, on the situation and our need to intensify global diplomatic efforts … I am canceling part of the program for this visit and will return to Ukraine immediately after the meeting with the President of South Africa,” he added.

He also said Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha “will hold all the necessary meetings in South Africa to fully inform the country’s political and civil society leaders about the situation.”