Ramaphosa going out of his way to piss off Donald Trump

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended an invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a state visit to South Africa, with hopes that the visit will take place soon, his office confirmed this week. This comes as the United States appears to sideline the Ukrainian leader amid shifting geopolitical alliances.

"The president wants that visit to happen as soon as possible," Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said.

The formal invitation was issued on January 15, following previous discussions between Ramaphosa and Zelenskiy at the United Nations General Assembly in September and the World Economic Forum in Davos in November. While no date has been confirmed, Ramaphosa has instructed diplomats to expedite preparations.

The confirmation of Ramaphosa's invitation comes as the US initiated peace talks with Russia on Tuesday, while former President Donald Trump signaled a potential withdrawal of military and financial support for Kyiv. Ukraine was notably excluded from these discussions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, further fueling concerns in Europe that Washington might push for a settlement favorable to Moscow.

Trump's stance has drawn criticism, especially after he suggested that Russia might have a rightful claim to occupied Ukrainian territory, stating, “they fought for that land.” Following the Riyadh meeting, Trump controversially remarked that Ukraine had instigated the conflict, the largest in Europe since World War II.

Zelenskiy responded, calling for transparency and dialogue with Trump's administration, stating, "I would like to have more truth with the Trump team." He further accused the former US president of being caught "in a web of disinformation."

Trump then escalated tensions by labeling Zelenskiy "a dictator" and warning that he should "move fast" in peace negotiations or risk losing his country altogether.

Magwenya reaffirmed Ramaphosa's position that an effective peace process cannot exclude Ukraine and that external powers should not dictate terms.

"No peace can hold unless all parties are involved equally in the process. That is the only way in which you can resolve a conflict in a manner that is long-lasting," Magwenya said. "We don't believe that any party involved in a conflict should be excluded, and we know this from our own experience in South Africa's political transition."

Magwenya added that Ramaphosa remains open to facilitating negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv but emphasized that South Africa would not impose settlement terms. "The nitty-gritty details must be discussed by the actual parties involved. There cannot be any external, dictatorial approach to how the parties resolve the conflict."

These developments coincide with South Africa's preparations to host a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Johannesburg on Thursday. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to skip the event due to ongoing diplomatic strains between Washington and Pretoria, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has confirmed his attendance.

Magwenya stated that Ramaphosa expects a courtesy call from Lavrov, potentially providing insights into the Riyadh talks.

Meanwhile, European leaders, concerned about Trump's approach to Ukraine, held an emergency summit in Paris on Monday to discuss their position in the negotiations. Magwenya stressed that Europe must have a role in any peace deal.

"We believe that all interested parties must be heard, and that includes Europe. A peace deal between Russia and Ukraine should not exclude any party. It should include the US, it should include Europe," he said.

The diplomatic rift between Washington and Kyiv comes as South Africa seeks to use its G20 presidency to push for a more inclusive global economic agenda focused on equitable development and sustainability. Rubio, however, has dismissed South Africa's priorities, alleging "anti-Americanism."

Despite the growing distance between Pretoria and Washington, European officials have expressed support for South Africa's leadership of the G20. European Commission President Antonio Costa reaffirmed the EU's commitment to strengthening ties with South Africa, praising it as a "reliable and predictable" partner.

Tensions between South Africa and the US further escalated after Trump's administration cut off donor funding to Pretoria. However, officials believe that the aggressive rhetoric from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance may strengthen South Africa's alignment with European partners.

At the recent Munich Security Conference, Vance stirred controversy by urging European leaders to stop marginalizing far-right parties. He also met with Germany's ultra-nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party that has been politically isolated due to its extremist views. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rebuked Vance's remarks, stating that Germany would not be dictated to on its democratic principles.

Adding to the diplomatic tensions, Trump reiterated his support for Afrikaners, claiming they face racial persecution in post-apartheid South Africa. His presidential order cutting aid to Pretoria was perceived as aligning with right-wing narratives within South Africa.

As South Africa prepares to welcome world leaders, Ramaphosa's invitation to Zelenskiy and the broader geopolitical shifts signal an evolving role for Pretoria on the global stage, balancing relationships with Russia, Ukraine, Europe, and the US amid increasing diplomatic complexities.