Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Mar 25, 2023

"Friends" With Russia, Says South Africa Amid Ukraine War

"Friends" With Russia, Says South Africa Amid Ukraine War

Lavrov said Moscow appreciated "the independent, well-balanced, and considerate approach" taken by Pretoria.
South Africa said on Monday it was "friends" with Russia as it hosted Russia's top diplomat for a visit that has sparked criticism against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

A continental powerhouse, South Africa has refused to condemn Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and last week announced it will host joint maritime drills with Russia and China in February.

Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor defended the move on Monday as she welcomed her counterpart Sergei Lavrov for talks in Pretoria.

"All countries conduct military exercises with friends," Ms Pandor told a press conference after the talks.

She thanked Lavrov for the "most wonderful meeting," which she earlier said would have helped "strengthen the already good relations" with what she described as a "valued partner."

South Africa recently assumed the chairmanship of the BRICS, a grouping that also includes Brazil, Russia, India, and China, to challenge the dominant US and European-led global governance structures.

It has resisted taking sides over the war in Ukraine, which has triggered sweeping Western sanctions against Moscow and attempts to leave it diplomatically isolated.

But the links with Moscow have triggered criticism, with some accusing the government of having abandoned its neutral stance.

'Openly siding with Russia'

"It is becoming increasingly clear that the South African government is openly siding with Russia," said Darren Bergman, a lawmaker with the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party.

"Friendly engagement" with Russia was "not appropriate" unless aimed at persuading it to end its involvement in Ukraine, he said.

Lavrov said Moscow appreciated "the independent, well-balanced, and considerate approach" taken by Pretoria.

Russia did not "refuse negotiations" with Ukraine, he added.

"But those who refuse must understand that the longer they refuse, the more difficult it is to find a solution," he said.

Officials in Moscow have blamed the closure of diplomatic channels on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has said he will not negotiate while Russian leader Vladimir Putin is in power.

Despite the public overtures, the Kremlin has so far shown little willingness to soften its approach on the ground.

In Pretoria, members of the Ukrainian community in South Africa held a small protest against the visit, with some waving signs reading "Go home Lavrov," and "Stop the lies! Stop the war."

More than 350 South African army personnel are to take part in the joint naval exercises scheduled for February 17 to 27 off the port cities of Durban and Richards Bay.

Last week, the foundation of the late South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, called the planned naval exercises "disgraceful" and "tantamount to a declaration that South Africa is joining the war against Ukraine."
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
Close
0:00
0:00
Powell: Silicon Valley Bank was an 'outlier'
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
Donald Trump arrested – Twitter goes wild with doctored pictures
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest.
BVI Freedom Song
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
Home Secretary Suella Braverman tours potential migrant housing in Rwanda as asylum deal remains mired in legal challenges
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
Hello Dolly
Jeremy Hunt insists his Budget will get young parents and over-50s back into work
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up
Nashville police officer, and a female driver shooting one another
Yes He Can
TRUMP: "Standing before you today, I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III."
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Mexican President Claims Mexico is Safer than the U.S.
Unforgettable
A brief banking situation report
Touch The Hem Of His Garment
Lady bites police officer and gets instantly reaction
The Lord's Prayer
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
THE GOD MOVEMENT...BEAUTIFUL BVI
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
Siyahamba
Good news: The U.S. government is now guaranteeing all deposits, held by, Silicon Valley Bank, and the funds are available as of today
Ray Charles And The Voices Of Jubilaton, Oh, Happy Day
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
Ramblin' Rose
In a potential last-ditch effort, HSBC is considering a rescue deal to save Silicon Valley Bank UK from insolvency
Protoje - Who Knows ft. Chronixx
BBC Director General, Tim Davie, has apologized, but not resigned, yet, following the disruption of sports programmes over the weekend
Pressure - Virgin Islands Nice
A Mississippian man, who was once considered a “ticking time bomb,” has lost a whopping 165 kilograms! What motivated this incredible transformation?
Phil Wickham - House Of The Lord
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
My God Is Real (Yes, God Is Real)
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
The Lion King Circle of Life by LEBO M. — LIVE at the HAVASI Symphonic
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
Louis Armstrong - When The Saints Go Marching In
Fitness scam
Kanye West Sunday Service - hallelujah, salvation, and glory
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
Jonathan Nelson - I Believe (Island Medley
A primitive judge in Australia sparked outrage when he told a breastfeeding woman to leave his courtroom for being “a distraction"
From The Virgin Islands Sqad Up
Barcelona is feeling the heat as they face corruption charges over payments to former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira
Common, John Legend - Glory
Senator Tom Cotton: If the Mexican Government Won’t Stop Cartels from Killing Americans, Then U.S. Government Should
Anthony Evans vs. Jesse Campbell - If I Ain't Got You
Banking regulators close SVB, the largest bank failure since the financial crisis
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
The unelected UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, an immigrant himself, defends new controversial crackdown on illegal migration
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
Old clip of Bill Gates saying Ukraine is a big, fat, corrupt sinkhole is going viral
BVI Freedom Song
Man’s penis amputated by mistake after he’s wrongly diagnosed with a tumour
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
In a major snub to Downing Street's Silicon Valley dreams, UK chip giant Arm has dealt a serious blow to the government's economic strategy by opting for a US listing
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
JP Morgan Becomes First Bank to Predict UK Will Avoid Recession
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
JP Morgan Becomes First Bank to Predict UK Will Avoid Recession
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
How do stolen goods end up on Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace?
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
It's the question on everyone's lips: could a four-day workweek be the future of employment?
Hello Dolly
Is Gold the Ultimate Safe Haven Asset in Times of Uncertainty?
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
×