DIRCO heading to Ukraine as part of govt's efforts to resolve tensions with Russia

CAPE TOWN - The director of the Department of International Relations Cooperation, Zane Dangor, is headed to Ukraine this week as part of the government’s diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions with Russia. 

Dangor will be joined by the president’s legal advisor, Nokukhanya Jele. 

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They are set to join other international partners on Wednesday in talks with senior Ukrainian officials. 

It follows another landslide election victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend to overtake Josef Stalin as the country’s longest-serving president. 

Following the African leaders' visit to Kyiv in June, President Cyril Ramaphosa presented a 10-point plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

However, two years since Russia’s invasion of its neighbour, the cross-border hostilities continue. 

“The visit to Kyiv forms part of engagements by South Africa at the bilateral and multilateral levels and indicates South Africa’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict,” said DIRCO's head of diplomacy, Clayson Monyela.

Over the weekend, Russia accused Ukraine of election sabotage, as its drones allegedly struck targets across Russia and disrupted electricity supply on the last day of its presidential election.