‘Supporting Ukraine today means Ubuntu’, says country’s foreign minister
South Africa has been slated for not picking sides in the Russia-Ukraine war, but International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor maintains it was best for the government to remain neutral.
Pandor was speaking at a press briefing on the sidelines of a meeting with her counterpart, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, in Pretoria on Monday.
“We are one of the few regions of the world that are able to speak both to Ukraine as well as to Russia,” she said.
“Not everyone is able to do that because if you have taken a side, then you are held to that side rather than being able to be of assistance in arriving at a resolution.”
Kuleba thanked the people of South Africa for supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion by Russia in February 2022.
“Your solidarity is priceless. The foundation of this support lies not only in the sympathy that the people in Africa have towards the people in Ukraine, and I appreciate the remark by the minister that, in the end, the war should end in a result satisfactory for the people of Ukraine.
“I think the concept of Ubuntu is relevant because [it’s] centred around the notion of humanity, and supporting the people of Ukraine today means Ubuntu.”
Listen | Opening Remarks of International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, H.E. Dmytro Kuleba, at the South Africa-Ukraine Bilateral Political Consultation Meeting.
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) November 6, 2023
🎙️https://t.co/FmWjlQ6ngm#ukraineinsa
Kuleba apologised for the lull in relations between the two countries, with his visit being the first of its kind since 1998.
Both ministers reiterated their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting development on the continent.
One way is through the expansion of business ties to advance trade and economic relations.
“Ukrainian businesses are eager to cooperate with their South African counterparts in agriculture, food industry, mining, mechanical engineering, information technology, digitalisation, pharmaceuticals and other areas,” Kuleba added.
He said Ukraine remains committed to addressing food insecurity even as Russia’s assault resulted in the collapse of the Black Sea deal – affecting the export of grain to countries in Africa and the Middle East.
“Ukraine has always paid special attention to food security on the African continent. President Zelensky’s humanitarian programme Grains from Ukraine aims to alleviate the negative consequences of Russian aggression on countries experiencing food shortage.”
At the same time, Minister Pandor said South Africa remains concerned by the ongoing war, the loss of lives, and the humanitarian situation.
In June, President Cyril Ramaphosa led the African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia, where both countries were encouraged to enter a peaceful dialogue that would end the conflict.
Pandor says her department continues to engage President Ramaphosa about the peace mission and how South Africa can have a greater impetus to address those concerns.
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