Zelensky is being forced to seek partners in the Global South due to tensions with the US, according to Thato Senabe

The recent visit to South Africa by Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky is a diplomatic show for NATO, which has been a destabilizing force around the world, Thato Senabe, leader of the local chapter of the Anti-Fascist International Organization, has said.

The activist made the remarks on Thursday while speaking with RT about the reasons for protests in South Africa against Zelensky's visit, during which the Ukrainian leader accused Russia of impeding Kiev's efforts to build relations with Africa.

"We as the Anti-Fascist International... do want peace and stability, but our opposition to this [visit] has to do with Zelensky's ideological position... and his alignment to the NATO imperialist," Senabe stated.

Zelensky cut short his first visit to the BRICS state on Thursday after meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, during which he said they "discussed the importance of uniting global efforts as fully as possible now to apply the necessary pressure on Russia - pressure for the sake of peace."

Ramaphosa called the visit historic, saying it was the "first time the Head of State of Ukraine is visiting South Africa in the 33 years" since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. The South African leader told reporters that the talks focused on "advancing peace, security, stability, and sustainable development on the continent, in Ukraine, and across the world."

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However, Senabe told RT that Zelensky's trip undermines Pretoria's potential to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine from a non-aligned position. According to the activist, a previous African peace mission led by Ramaphosa to Ukraine and Russia in 2023 held more promise for resolving the conflict, but it was "practically snubbed by Ukraine at that time."

Senabe claimed Ukraine's deteriorating relationship with the US, which had been its main weapons supplier, forced Zelensky to seek partners "long after many efforts in the Global South to establish peace and stability were unfortunately pushed aside."

Themba Godi, the leader of the South African People's Convention Party, expressed similar sentiments as Senabe. In a separate interview with RT, Godi described Zelensky's visit as a "desperate effort to wiggle himself into the countries of the South, whom he had ignored and despised throughout the challenging period of the special military operation."