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Zelenskyy cuts go to to South Africa quick after in a single day assaults
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has simply reacted to the most recent wave of assaults on Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president, visiting South Africa in the present day, stated in a social media replace that he would inform the nation’s president Cyril Ramaphosa “concerning the state of affairs and our want to accentuate international diplomatic efforts.”
However whereas this assembly with Ramaphosa continues to be anticipated to go forward this morning, the broader go to to South Africa shall be reduce quick, he stated, as he intends to instantly return to Ukraine within the aftermath of final evening’s assault.
Zelenskyy famous it has been “44 days since Ukraine agreed to a whole ceasefire” proposed by the US, however Russia “continues to kill folks and keep away from powerful stress and accountability for this.”
9 folks had been lifeless, and over 80 injured on account of in a single day strikes, he stated.
“It’s essential that everybody on this planet sees and understands what is admittedly occurring,” he stated.
“The cessation of strikes is critical instantly and unconditionally. We additionally rely on help in humanitarian issues – within the return of our captives and Ukrainian youngsters kidnapped by Russia,” he stated.
Zelenskyy stated he would ask companions to assist Ukraine strengthen its air defence to guard towards additional strikes.
Key occasions
Zelenskyy meets South Africa’s Ramaphosa in Pretoria
Rachel Savage
The rain had been hammering down however cleared up in time for the arrival of Zelenskyy, who bought out of his automobile to shake Cyril Ramaphosa’s hand flanked by his physique guards and gun-toting South African troopers.
Russian strikes on Ukraine in a single day – map
Right here is a map of the Russian assaults on Ukraine final evening, due to our good graphics division.
In a social media replace posted simply earlier than assembly with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa stated he spoke with US president Donald Trump “to debate the peace course of in Ukraine.”
“We each agreed that the struggle must be dropped at an finish as quickly as potential to cease additional pointless deaths,” he stated.
He added that they leaders “each agreed to satisfy quickly to deal with numerous issues concerning US-South Africa relations,” and “spoke about the necessity to foster good relations between our two international locations.”
Russia blames Ukraine’s Zelenskyy for wrecking peace diplomacy
In the meantime, Russia – recent after launching lethal assaults on Kyiv and different Ukrainian cities in a single day – accused Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy of wrecking diplomacy geared toward reaching a peace deal after he refused to comply with recognise Russia’s unlawful annexation of Crimea, Reuters reported.
Russian international ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova advised reporters that it was changing into clearer by the minute that Zelenskyy lacked the capability to barter a deal to finish the struggle.
Zakharova stated choices by European international locations to proceed supplying weapons to Kyiv had been encouraging Zelenskyy to pursue the struggle, no matter casualties, Reuters reported.
Their angle confirmed some European international locations had been frightened by the prospect of a Russian victory, Russia’s Zakharova claimed.

Rachel Savage
We perceive that whereas the go to shall be reduce quick after Zelenskyy’s assembly with Ramaphosa, their media actions will nonetheless proceed, that means we should always hear from the Ukrainian president within the subsequent few hours.

Jakub Krupa
Rachel and I’ll regulate this growth to see if Zelenskyy takes half in a scheduled press convention in Pretoria in case he desires to say extra concerning the assaults in a single day.
We’ll hold you updated.

Rachel Savage
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in South Africa early this morning together with his spouse for a gathering with president Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Africa attracted the ire of Ukraine’s allies, together with then US president Joe Biden, early within the battle for refusing to sentence Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Then, in Might 2023, the US ambassador to South Africa brought about a diplomatic storm when he accused South Africa of supplying arms to Russia. Ramaphosa was in a delegation of seven African leaders who visited Ukraine after which Russia in June that 12 months.
“The visits supplies South Africa and Ukraine with a chance to debate bilateral relations and increase bilateral cooperation within the areas of Commerce, Agriculture and Schooling,” South Africa’s international ministry stated in a press release.
“It should additionally discover areas of cooperation with the target to assist efforts to convey lasting peace.”

Jakub Krupa
Let’s get a bit extra background on that go to to South Africa from our correspondent, Rachel Savage.
Zelenskyy cuts go to to South Africa quick after in a single day assaults
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has simply reacted to the most recent wave of assaults on Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president, visiting South Africa in the present day, stated in a social media replace that he would inform the nation’s president Cyril Ramaphosa “concerning the state of affairs and our want to accentuate international diplomatic efforts.”
However whereas this assembly with Ramaphosa continues to be anticipated to go forward this morning, the broader go to to South Africa shall be reduce quick, he stated, as he intends to instantly return to Ukraine within the aftermath of final evening’s assault.
Zelenskyy famous it has been “44 days since Ukraine agreed to a whole ceasefire” proposed by the US, however Russia “continues to kill folks and keep away from powerful stress and accountability for this.”
9 folks had been lifeless, and over 80 injured on account of in a single day strikes, he stated.
“It’s essential that everybody on this planet sees and understands what is admittedly occurring,” he stated.
“The cessation of strikes is critical instantly and unconditionally. We additionally rely on help in humanitarian issues – within the return of our captives and Ukrainian youngsters kidnapped by Russia,” he stated.
Zelenskyy stated he would ask companions to assist Ukraine strengthen its air defence to guard towards additional strikes.
215 Russian strikes on Ukraine over evening, Ukrainian air power says
Russia fired at the least 70 missiles and 145 drones at Ukraine in a single day, the principle goal being Kyiv the place at the least 9 folks had been killed, the Ukrainian air power stated.
In a press release on social media, the air power stated it had “detected and tracked 215 enemy air targets” – together with ballistic and cruise missiles – of which 112 had been “confirmed to have been shot down,” AFP reported.
The publish added that F-16 and Mirage fighter jets performed “an lively half in repelling the assault,” with Ukrainian pilots taking pictures down “dozens” of missiles.
‘Notably horrible’ assault on Kyiv leaves 9 lifeless, over 70 injured, international minister says
Ukraine’s international minister Andrii Sybiha responded to the in a single day assaults on Telegram.
He stated the in a single day assault was “notably horrible,” and confirmed 9 deaths and over 70 folks injured, together with six youngsters.
He added:
Yesterday’s Russian maximalist calls for for Ukraine to withdraw from its areas, mixed with these brutal strikes, present that Russia, not Ukraine, is the impediment to peace.
Moscow, not Kyiv, is the place stress must be utilized.
…
Putin demonstrates by his actions, not phrases, that he doesn’t respect any peace efforts and solely desires to proceed the struggle.
Weak spot and concessions is not going to cease his terror and aggression. Solely energy and stress will.
Folks shelter within the metro as Russian missiles hit Ukraine’s capital – video
‘Main rescue operation’ after Russian assault, minister says

Luke Harding
Ukraine’s inside minister Ihor Klymenko stated a significant rescue operation was underneath means within the Svyatoshinsky district of Kyiv, involving canines and engineering groups.
“Cell phones could be heard ringing underneath the ruins. The search will proceed till everyone is bought out. We have now details about two youngsters who can’t be discovered on the scene of the incident,” he stated.
Morning opening: Is that this your concept of peace?

Jakub Krupa
At the least 9 folks have been killed and greater than 60 wounded in a “huge” missile assault on Kyiv, in keeping with Ukraine’s state emergency service. It’s among the many deadliest assaults on the capital of the three-year struggle.
The loss of life toll may go up with stories of individuals trapped underneath the rubble and over 40 hospitalised within the aftermath of the assault.
The lethal strike comes a day after a diplomatic assembly in London to debate the following steps and amid mounting stress from president Donald Trump on Kyiv to just accept a US-brokered peace deal, which would come with the US formally recognising Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian Crimea as a part of it.
In feedback in a single day, he boasted: ““I feel we now have a cope with Russia. We have now to get a cope with Zelensky.”
He added: “I believed it is perhaps simpler to cope with Zelensky. Up to now it’s been more durable.”
Or, as our defence and safety editor Dan Sabbagh put it, “Russia is prepared to commerce territory it doesn’t management in Ukraine – in impact recent air – for a US recognition of its 2014 seizure of Crimea, in different phrases a proper acknowledgment that it’s potential to vary borders by power, in impact creating a rare precedent.”
After Zelenskyy stated Ukraine would by no means legally recognise the Russian-occupied Crimea, Trump lashed out on his social media blaming the Ukrainian president for “making it so tough to settle this struggle” and “prolonging the ‘killing area’”.
White Home Karoline Leavitt added that Trump’s endurance was “operating very skinny.””
Let’s see what the day brings us.
Coincidentally, Nato secretary normal Mark Rutte shall be in Washington in the present day and tomorrow, assembly with US state secretary Marco Rubio, defence secretary Pete Hegseth, and nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz, giving him loads of alternatives to get the most recent US line on Ukraine.
Elsewhere, European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen will go to London in the present day for talks on vitality safety, together with her journey coming lower than a month earlier than the much-anticipated EU-UK summit on “resetting” the connection in mid-Might.
And the coffin with physique of Pope Francis continues to lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica within the Vatican as cardinals finalise preparations for his funeral on Saturday, and the method of choosing his successor, set to kick off in early Might.
It’s Thursday, 24 April 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Reside.
Good morning.