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Jacob Zuma backs Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calls Putin a “man of peace’
Former president Jacob Zuma has given his views on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and has come in full support of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a statement from the Jacob G Zuma Foundation, released on Sunday, Zuma outlined why he felt Russia was provoked and said expressing his views in the matter was based on the fact that he “felt it would be remiss of him not to exercise his constitutionally enshrined freedom of expression”.
Zuma outlined the source of the conflict, saying that Russia has for years, been consistent in his stance against the eastern expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) into Ukraine,
He said if the USA found itself in the same situation Russia finds itself in, it would certainly respond the same way.
“Ukraine and Russia are separated only by a line on the map and not by the Baltic Sea — why is this complicated to understand?”
“If forces, globally known to be hostile to the USA, were known to be establishing the presence of any sort in any of the adjacent territories, the USA would certainly act in a manner that it believes would neutralise such a perceived threat,” said Zuma.
He continued to expand on the threat the expansion of Nato is to Russia.
“Surely, in terms of efforts to achieving world peace, the sovereignty of Ukraine and all the democratic dictates cannot mean allowing Nato to establish a presence on its real estate, thus establishing an untenable risk to Russia.”
Putin is a man of peace
Zuma also added that he is confident that the conflict will have a resolution as he believes President Vladimir Putin is a man of peace.
“I am certain that his excellency Vladimir Putin will reciprocate and will bring in all his power to make peace a reality, as I know him to be a man of peace who has worked hard to ensure peace and stability across the globe,” read the statement.
Last week South Africa abstained from voting on a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion, a resolution calling on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine.
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