Dirco meets with Ukraine ambassador, 45 days after invasion
Ukraine's ambassador to South Africa Liubov Abravitova has finally met with the director-general of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation Zane Dangor.
Abravitova says it was her first meeting with a South African government official since her country was invaded by Russia in February.
On Sunday, ambassador Abravitova took to Twitter saying not a single government official has met with her since the invasion.
It is unclear what was discussed at the meeting on Monday.
South Africa has abstained from two United Nations votes on the war in Ukraine, saying it wanted to remain neutral as dialogue, mediation and diplomacy were the only paths to end the conflict.
On Friday, International Relations and Co-operation Minister Naledi Pandor defended their decision to not vote to censure Russia.
She said while South Africa is not indifferent to the suffering of the Ukrainian people, neutrality is consistent with the call to resolve the conflict through mediation.
But critics have pointed out that the Minister of Defence attended a cocktail party celebrating the Russian army at its embassy on the day of the invasion and members of the ANC in the Western Cape later attended a separate party at the embassy to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
#TalkToMe Since the beginning of russian invasion I did not have any requested meeting with SA government officials… 45 days!!! My people are under brutal attack of russians ..now. @DIRCO_ZA @CyrilRamaphosa @News24 @dailymaverick @SABCNews @eNCA - how ?!- https://t.co/IRehK00PfI pic.twitter.com/twc3JuB4QC
— Liubov Abravitova (@lubovabravitova) April 10, 2022
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