Although initially critical of Russian invasion of Ukraine,[3][4] South Africa sought to repair and maintain friendly relations with Russia.[5][6] President Ramaphosa stated that South Africans "in the main" support the South African government's neutral position on the war.[7]
South Africa was one of 35 countries that abstained from voting on a United Nations condemnation of Russia's invasion of the country,[8] a stance that Ukrainian Ambassador to South Africa Liubov Abravitova described as "puzzling", "unacceptable" and "alarming."[9] Said ambassador later stated that her country was finding it difficult to engage with the South African government on the issue due to a lingering goodwill towards Russia, citing the Soviet Union's assistance to the anti-apartheid struggle as the reason, something the ruling African National Congress (ANC) views as being provided by Russia.[citation needed]
On 20 April 2022, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the war, seven weeks after Ramaphosa discussed the war with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The length of time between Ramaphosa's discussions with the two and the reported difficulty that the Ukrainians had in organising the meeting was cause for controversy.[10]
A March 2022 draft resolution presented by South Africa to the United Nations was criticized by Ukraine as favouring Russia without consulting Ukraine.[11] This draft resolution omitted any mention of Russia's aggressive actions towards Ukraine.[12][13] Instead, an alternative resolution proposed by France and Mexico that explicitly mentioned Russia as the aggressor was adopted.[13][11]
Response in the Western Capeedit
Despite the South African government's position on the Russian invasion, Cape Town City Hall was lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag to show the city's solidarity with Ukraine.
Domestically, the South African government's position was controversial among its citizens. The Western Cape Government (headed by the opposition party Democratic Alliance) lit up the provincial government buildings[14] and the Cape Town City Hall[15] in the blue and gold of the Ukrainian flag in support of the country. The mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, pledged support on 2 March for the city of Kyiv and all Ukraine during the war,[16] and called on his nation's government as well as governments worldwide to "do more for peace to be restored and for the unprovoked and illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people to be halted."[15] The ANC and Al Jamah-ah parties were reportedly opposed to the City Hall's lighting ceremony.[17]
The Western Cape provincial cabinet later passed a resolution supporting Ukraine and condemning the Russian invasion, as well as the clampdown on protest within Russia against the war. "While doing so is not common for a province", a provincial government newsletter stated, "it was viewed as essential to make clear to our own residents, to the people of Ukraine, and to the rest of the world that we cannot and will not remain 'neutral' in the face of such a cruel attack on the democratic values we all hold dear." The condemnation also included a boycott of the events or meetings hosted by the Russian Embassy and Consulates, as well as a refusal to invite them to the Western Cape Government's own events or meetings.[18]
Following the issue of an arrest warrant for Putin following the invasion the Western Cape Government announced that should Putin enter the province then provincial law enforcement would arrest him.[19] This was counter to the national government which had invited Putin to attend a BRICS conference in South Africa later in 2023.[20]
African Peace Missionedit
On 16 June 2023, Cyril Ramaphosa visited Kyiv, the first visit by a South African leader, as part of the African Peace Mission to Ukraine.[21]
Economyedit
In 2008, South Africa was ranked second (after Ghana) among all African countries in terms of products exported to Ukraine. In that year, trade between the two countries had grown 5.4 times to $375.1 million.[22] By 2021, South Africa exported R434.83 million (US$ 28.98 million) and imported R730.10 million (US$ 48.67 million) worth of goods to and from Ukraine.[23]
^Rumer, Andrew S. Weiss, Eugene; Rumer, Andrew S. Weiss, Eugene. "Nuclear Enrichment: Russia's Ill-Fated Influence Campaign in South Africa". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 2022-02-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Fabricius, Peter (2022-02-24). "WAR IN EUROPE: Pretoria calls on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
^"SA tells Russia to withdraw from Ukraine 'immediately' | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
^Fabricius, Peter (2022-02-27). "WAR IN EUROPE: Pretoria scrambles to repair relations with Russia after calling for invasion forces to leave Ukraine". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
^Felix, Jason. "SA maintains 'cordial and friendly' relationship with Russia despite invasion of Ukraine". News24. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
^Nkanjeni, Unathi (25 March 2022). "Most South Africans support our stance over Russia-Ukraine conflict, says Ramaphosa". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
^"UN General Assembly demands Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, South Africa abstains from vote". The Mail & Guardian. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
^Khumalo, Juniour. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Ambassador 'puzzled' by SA's decision to abstain during UN vote". News24. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
^Fabricius, Peter (2022-04-21). "WAR IN EUROPE: Ramaphosa and Zelensky finally talk on Wednesday night about Russian aggression". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
^ abGerber, Jan. "Ukraine shames SA on global stage over proposed UN resolution backed by Russia". News24. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
^"U.N. Security Council defeats Russia humanitarian resolution on Ukraine that would omit fault". PBS NewsHour. 2022-03-23. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
^ abFabricius, Peter (2022-03-26). "DIPLOMATIC DISASTER: SA's egg dance on war in Europe a lesson in how not to win friends and influence people". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
^Evans, Jenni. "Opposition parties see red over Western Cape legislature's yellow and blue lights for Ukraine". News24. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
^ abEvans, Jenni. "Cape Town City Hall's turn to get lit up for Ukraine". News24. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
^"Cape Town mayor pledges solidarity with Ukraine". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
^"Blue and yellow lights set to illuminate solidarity with Ukraine in Cape Town". www.capetownetc.com. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
^"Premier Alan Winde on provincial cabinet's condemnation of Russia's Invasion". Western Cape Government. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
^Macupe, Bongekile. "'I will arrest Putin if he comes to the Western Cape' – Premier Winde". News24. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
^Khoza, Amanda (23 March 2023). "Russia's Vladimir Putin invited to attend Brics summit in SA, Pandor confirms". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
^"Zelenskyy asks African leaders to push Russia on prisoner release". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
^Ukraine, South Africa discuss trade, economic cooperation, Interfax-Ukraine (September 16, 2009)
^"Trade Balance Graph for 2014 – 2022". SARS. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
External linksedit
South African Department of Foreign Affairs about relations with Ukraine
south, africa, ukraine, relations, south, african, ukrainian, relations, refers, current, historical, relations, between, south, africa, ukraine, south, africa, established, embassy, kyiv, october, 1992, while, ukraine, established, embassy, pretoria, 1995, so. South African Ukrainian relations refers to the current and historical relations between South Africa and Ukraine South Africa established an embassy in Kyiv in October 1992 while Ukraine established an embassy in Pretoria in 1995 1 South African Ukrainian relationsSouth Africa UkraineEnvoyAmbassador Andre GroenewaldAmbassador Liubov Abravitova Contents 1 Russo Ukrainian War 1 1 Response in the Western Cape 1 2 African Peace Mission 2 Economy 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksRusso Ukrainian War editSouth Africa has avoided criticizing Russia s 2014 annexation of Crimea and instead argued for solidarity amongst BRICS nations 2 Although initially critical of Russian invasion of Ukraine 3 4 South Africa sought to repair and maintain friendly relations with Russia 5 6 President Ramaphosa stated that South Africans in the main support the South African government s neutral position on the war 7 South Africa was one of 35 countries that abstained from voting on a United Nations condemnation of Russia s invasion of the country 8 a stance that Ukrainian Ambassador to South Africa Liubov Abravitova described as puzzling unacceptable and alarming 9 Said ambassador later stated that her country was finding it difficult to engage with the South African government on the issue due to a lingering goodwill towards Russia citing the Soviet Union s assistance to the anti apartheid struggle as the reason something the ruling African National Congress ANC views as being provided by Russia citation needed On 20 April 2022 South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the war seven weeks after Ramaphosa discussed the war with Russian President Vladimir Putin The length of time between Ramaphosa s discussions with the two and the reported difficulty that the Ukrainians had in organising the meeting was cause for controversy 10 A March 2022 draft resolution presented by South Africa to the United Nations was criticized by Ukraine as favouring Russia without consulting Ukraine 11 This draft resolution omitted any mention of Russia s aggressive actions towards Ukraine 12 13 Instead an alternative resolution proposed by France and Mexico that explicitly mentioned Russia as the aggressor was adopted 13 11 Response in the Western Cape edit nbsp Despite the South African government s position on the Russian invasion Cape Town City Hall was lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag to show the city s solidarity with Ukraine Domestically the South African government s position was controversial among its citizens The Western Cape Government headed by the opposition party Democratic Alliance lit up the provincial government buildings 14 and the Cape Town City Hall 15 in the blue and gold of the Ukrainian flag in support of the country The mayor of Cape Town Geordin Hill Lewis pledged support on 2 March for the city of Kyiv and all Ukraine during the war 16 and called on his nation s government as well as governments worldwide to do more for peace to be restored and for the unprovoked and illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people to be halted 15 The ANC and Al Jamah ah parties were reportedly opposed to the City Hall s lighting ceremony 17 The Western Cape provincial cabinet later passed a resolution supporting Ukraine and condemning the Russian invasion as well as the clampdown on protest within Russia against the war While doing so is not common for a province a provincial government newsletter stated it was viewed as essential to make clear to our own residents to the people of Ukraine and to the rest of the world that we cannot and will not remain neutral in the face of such a cruel attack on the democratic values we all hold dear The condemnation also included a boycott of the events or meetings hosted by the Russian Embassy and Consulates as well as a refusal to invite them to the Western Cape Government s own events or meetings 18 Following the issue of an arrest warrant for Putin following the invasion the Western Cape Government announced that should Putin enter the province then provincial law enforcement would arrest him 19 This was counter to the national government which had invited Putin to attend a BRICS conference in South Africa later in 2023 20 African Peace Mission edit On 16 June 2023 Cyril Ramaphosa visited Kyiv the first visit by a South African leader as part of the African Peace Mission to Ukraine 21 Economy editIn 2008 South Africa was ranked second after Ghana among all African countries in terms of products exported to Ukraine In that year trade between the two countries had grown 5 4 times to 375 1 million 22 By 2021 South Africa exported R434 83 million US 28 98 million and imported R730 10 million US 48 67 million worth of goods to and from Ukraine 23 See also editForeign relations of South Africa Foreign relations of UkraineReferences edit Ukraine www dirco gov za Retrieved 2022 02 28 Rumer Andrew S Weiss Eugene Rumer Andrew S Weiss Eugene Nuclear Enrichment Russia s Ill Fated Influence Campaign in South Africa Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Retrieved 2022 02 28 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Fabricius Peter 2022 02 24 WAR IN EUROPE Pretoria calls on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine Daily Maverick Retrieved 2022 02 27 SA tells Russia to withdraw from Ukraine immediately eNCA www enca com Retrieved 2022 02 27 Fabricius Peter 2022 02 27 WAR IN EUROPE Pretoria scrambles to repair relations with Russia after calling for invasion forces to leave Ukraine Daily Maverick Retrieved 2022 02 28 Felix Jason SA maintains cordial and friendly relationship with Russia despite invasion of Ukraine News24 Retrieved 2022 02 28 Nkanjeni Unathi 25 March 2022 Most South Africans support our stance over Russia Ukraine conflict says Ramaphosa TimesLIVE Retrieved 2022 03 28 UN General Assembly demands Russian withdrawal from Ukraine South Africa abstains from vote The Mail amp Guardian 2022 03 03 Retrieved 2022 03 03 Khumalo Juniour Russia s invasion of Ukraine Ambassador puzzled by SA s decision to abstain during UN vote News24 Retrieved 2022 03 04 Fabricius Peter 2022 04 21 WAR IN EUROPE Ramaphosa and Zelensky finally talk on Wednesday night about Russian aggression Daily Maverick Retrieved 2022 04 23 a b Gerber Jan Ukraine shames SA on global stage over proposed UN resolution backed by Russia News24 Retrieved 2022 03 28 U N Security Council defeats Russia humanitarian resolution on Ukraine that would omit fault PBS NewsHour 2022 03 23 Retrieved 2022 03 28 a b Fabricius Peter 2022 03 26 DIPLOMATIC DISASTER SA s egg dance on war in Europe a lesson in how not to win friends and influence people Daily Maverick Retrieved 2022 03 28 Evans Jenni Opposition parties see red over Western Cape legislature s yellow and blue lights for Ukraine News24 Retrieved 2022 03 01 a b Evans Jenni Cape Town City Hall s turn to get lit up for Ukraine News24 Retrieved 2022 03 03 Cape Town mayor pledges solidarity with Ukraine BusinessLIVE Retrieved 2022 03 03 Blue and yellow lights set to illuminate solidarity with Ukraine in Cape Town www capetownetc com Retrieved 2022 06 16 Premier Alan Winde on provincial cabinet s condemnation of Russia s Invasion Western Cape Government Retrieved 2022 03 09 Macupe Bongekile I will arrest Putin if he comes to the Western Cape Premier Winde News24 Retrieved 2023 05 01 Khoza Amanda 23 March 2023 Russia s Vladimir Putin invited to attend Brics summit in SA Pandor confirms TimesLIVE Retrieved 2023 05 01 Zelenskyy asks African leaders to push Russia on prisoner release www aljazeera com Retrieved 2023 06 16 Ukraine South Africa discuss trade economic cooperation Interfax Ukraine September 16 2009 Trade Balance Graph for 2014 2022 SARS Retrieved 21 April 2022 External links editSouth African Department of Foreign Affairs about relations with Ukraine Ukrainian embassy in Pretoria Portals nbsp Politics nbsp South Africa nbsp Ukraine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title South Africa Ukraine relations amp oldid 1172312952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
