President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that South Africa and the United States will meet “soon” to resolve escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. This follows a direct phone call between Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump on Thursday morning.

The call, which was also referenced by Ramaphosa during a media briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, touched on pressing global issues—including the war in Ukraine—and the growing strain in bilateral relations.

A Step Toward Rebuilding Strained Ties

“I spoke to US President Donald Trump to discuss the peace process in Ukraine. We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to stop further unnecessary deaths,” Ramaphosa said.

But beyond Ukraine, Ramaphosa confirmed that the two leaders had agreed to a future meeting aimed at mending ties between the two countries.

“We also spoke about the need to foster good relations between our two countries,” he added.

Since Trump’s return to the White House in January, Washington’s relationship with Pretoria has deteriorated sharply, with serious diplomatic and economic consequences.

Trump’s Policy Pushback

In recent months, the Trump administration has taken a hardline stance on South Africa’s domestic and foreign policies.

The US expelled South Africa’s ambassador and suspended financial aid programs, citing opposition to South Africa’s land reform initiatives and its decision to support a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

These moves have sparked debate within both countries, with critics arguing the measures are overly punitive, while others see them as a natural outcome of diverging international stances.

Zelenskyy’s Visit Cut Short Amid Global Conflict

In a related development, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was recently hosted by Ramaphosa on his first-ever official visit to South Africa—a diplomatic first that marked growing ties between the two nations.

However, Zelenskyy was forced to cut his visit short following a large-scale missile and drone assault on Kyiv by Russian forces overnight, underscoring the fragility of the global peace process.

Also Read: Zelensky’s Landmark Visit to South Africa Aims to Reboot Ukraine-Africa Ties Amid Global Power Plays

What to Expect From the Upcoming Meeting

While the date and format of the Ramaphosa-Trump meeting are yet to be confirmed, the stakes are high. The agenda is likely to include discussions on:

• US aid suspension

• South Africa’s land reform policy

• The ICJ case against Israel

• Peace efforts in Ukraine

• Trade and economic cooperation

The outcome of this meeting could shape South Africa’s diplomatic and economic future for years to come.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com