Abigail Okunade
Former South Africa President Jacob Zuma on Sunday expressed his support for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attack of Ukraine, describing him as a man of peace.
“Our Patron says that the current impasse between Russia and Ukraine must be seen within the context of, in the main, dynamics in the balance of forces on a global scale”, a statement on his foundation’s official Twitter handle said.
“This impasse has by default also exposed the hypocrisy of what has become the conventional wisdom which always favours the westem forces including their bullying tendencies and their insatiable appetite to dominate others whilst clandestinely furthering their own agendas and interests”, the statement added.
It praised Russia and China for being able to defend their territories from western bullies as a result of their “strong political and economic independence”.
“His Excellency President Vladimir Putin has been very patient with the western forces. He has been crystal clear about his opposition of the eastem expansion of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) into Ukraine, among other areas, and is on record about the military threat posed to Russia by the presence of these forces; if allowed to be on his door-step”.
The statement said Putin’s decision was “justifiable”.
“With the above in mind, it looks justifiable that Russia felt provoked. It is however quite fortunate that His Excellency President Viadimir Putin, unlike other small countries, has the capacity (in Russia) to respond to security threats in line with the prescripts that are applicable to his country. His actions, whereas justifiable, are still a far cry as compared with what other big powers have done when faced with such a situation”.
Western nations have imposed punitive sanctions on Russia, including the freezing of Putin’s foreign assets over his invasion of Ukraine.
Zuma in the statement urged those involved “To bring peace as swiftly as possible so that lives can be saved”.
He called on President Zelensky “To put the interests of the Ukrainians first, instead of pandering to his western allies at the expense of innocent lives”.
Zuma was forced out of office by his own party in 2018, the African National Congress (ANC), over corruption allegations. He however had denied any wrongdoing.
