South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a post on social media platform X on Thursday that he had spoken to U.S. President Donald Trump on the peace process in Ukraine and the need to foster good bilateral relations.

While Zelenskyy was traveling, a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack hit Kyiv, killing nine people and injuring another 63, including six children, Ukrainian authorities said.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is on a historic visit to South Africa, signalling a dramatic improvement in the once-strained relations between the two nations. The visit marks a diplomatic breakthrough for the Ukrainian leader in his efforts to counter Russia's strong - and growing - influence in Africa.