John Steenhuisen Plans to Boost Agricultural Trade During Zelenskyy’s Visit to South Africa

• The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has landed in South Africa for his first visit to the country
• Zelenskyy's visit to South Africa aims to strengthen relations between the two countries amid global efforts to secure a peace deal with Russia
• Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has highlighted his intention to use Zelensky's visit to bolster agricultural trade

The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, stated that he plans to use Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to South Africa to bolster agricultural trade. Zelensky arrived in South Africa this morning, 24 April 2025.

What did Steenhuisen say?

On Wednesday, 23 April 2025, Steenhuisen hosted industry leaders and policymakers at the G20 agricultural working group in Durban. He said that he will be present when the South African delegation meets the Ukrainian president.

He said that he will use this opportunity to strengthen South Africa's agricultural trade with Ukraine. Steenhuisen said that Ukraine is one of the largest fertiliser producers in the world. Many farmers struggle with the high cost of fertilisers, which drives up production costs and, in turn, increases food prices.

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Steenhuisen emphasised that Ukraine is important to South Africa as the country is a major global exporter of grains. He mentioned that South Africa had a poor year for some grains last year, but things are looking better this year.

Why is Zelenskyy visiting SA?

Zelenskyy is meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa to strengthen ties between the two countries. The Ukrainian president is also embarking on global efforts to secure a peace deal with Russia to end the war between the two countries.

The visit is particularly significant as Ukraine's relationship with the US has been strained since Donald Trump took office. Trump has paused military aid and said that Zelenskyy is responsible for the war. He also cut funding and imposed tariffs on South Africa after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Bill into law.

What you need to know about Zelenskyy

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to arrive in South Africa on 24 April 2025 for a state visit. This follows an invitation from President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss peace efforts amid Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia.
• US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance reportedly had a heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to the White House. Zelenskyy was there to discuss a potential peace deal with Russia and to sign an agreement on sharing Ukraine’s mineral resources.
• The official opposition, the MK Party, has announced plans to protest Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s upcoming state visit to South Africa. The party criticised the visit, with secretary-general Floyd Shivambu saying it goes against South Africa’s stance on non-alignment and anti-imperialism.

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Ramaphosa pushes for Zelenskyy visit to SA

In related news, Briefly News previously reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to South Africa for a state visit.

The Presidency confirmed that Ramaphosa is open to facilitating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine if necessary. The move has divided South Africans, while some support the initiative, others believe the president should focus on addressing issues at home.

Source: Briefly News