On Monday, October 28, during the visit to the Republic of South Africa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha had bilateral talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa Ronald Lamola in Pretoria.

Andrii Sybiha thanked Minister Lamola for the hospitality and productive negotiations. He noted that Ukraine values partnership with South Africa.

“The voice of South Africa is of great importance in Africa and around the world. We need your solidarity and support in matters that are crucial for all of us. I appreciate that we coordinated our positions on the eve of important international events,” the Minister noted.

Andrii Sybiha expressed hope that South Africa’s presidency of the G20, which is to begin in December, will provide decisive leadership in overcoming regional and global challenges, including russian aggression against Ukraine.

The Minister emphasized that russia’s brutal full-scale war destroyed the world order based on international law, brought suffering and atrocities to Ukraine, and also caused a number of global crises – in food, energy, security and other spheres.

“This war does not concern only Ukraine, it directly affects millions of people in Africa and other parts of the world. That is why we have a common goal: a comprehensive, just and long-lasting peace for Ukraine,” the Foreign Minister said.

The Minister wished South Africa a successful presidency of the G20, called to keep Ukraine in focus and bring a just peace closer through joint efforts.

The Ukrainian diplomat also thanked South Africa for supporting the Peace Formula and informed his colleague about the logic of further steps in its implementation.

The Minister emphasized that the participation of the Republic of South Africa in the second Global Peace Summit is important for Ukraine.

“The Peace Formula is the only realistic way forward. We see other ideas as well. But we definitely don’t need competition. We will achieve peace only through strength and unity, not through weakness or division,” the diplomat emphasized.

The Foreign Minister invited South Africa to join the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and received an assurance that South Africa would participate in the relevant conference in Canada in a few days.

Andrii Sybiha noted that even in the face of a full-scale russian invasion, Ukraine continues to play the role of a global guarantor of food security. He added that the Defense Forces of Ukraine succeeded in pushing the russians out of most of the Black Sea, establishing their own maritime corridor and returning Ukrainian exports to pre-war levels.

According to the Head of the Foreign Ministry, russia is now intensifying its attacks on Ukrainian ports and agriculture with the aim to weaken the Ukrainian economy and global food security.

“Ukraine needs more solidarity, more support from like-minded countries to restore and protect freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. We are counting on a clear position of South Africa on this issue,” he noted.

Andrii Sybiha also highlighted the risk of russian strikes on elements of the Ukrainian nuclear energy industry. He called on South Africa to help prevent this scenario and convey to the russian federation a position regarding the inadmissibility of such strikes.

The Ministers confirmed their mutual willingness to develop mutually beneficial trade and expand business ties. Andrii Sybiha singled out agriculture, food industry, mining, mechanical engineering, IT, digitalization and other areas as priority areas of cooperation. He added that the Ukrainian side will welcome the role of South African business in the restoration of Ukraine.

Andrii Sybiha also suggested that South Africa consider the possibility of liberalizing the visa regime for citizens of Ukraine. He noted that such a decision would be an important step for establishing contacts between people, developing business ties, cultural exchange and tourism.

Andrii Sybiha invited Ronald Lamola to visit Ukraine at a convenient time.