RT.com
21 Feb 2025, 18:03 GMT+10
South Africa has resisted pressure from its Western partners to take sides against Moscow
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and discussed the results of recent talks between US and Russian officials on settling the Ukraine conflict, the diplomat's office reported.
The talks between Lavrov and Ramaphosa took place on Thursday in Johannesburg, on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers. Apart from the South African leader, Lavrov also held closed-door negotiations with several of his counterparts, including Algerian, Chinese, Indian, Turkish, and Brazilian foreign ministers.
According to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement, the officials discussed the "main areas of the multifaceted" Russian-South African partnership, with a focus on increasing political, trade, economic, investment, and scientific-technical cooperation.
"Particular attention was paid to promising projects in the field of peaceful exploration of space," the ministry stated.
"The two countries emphasized their commitment to continuing constructive cooperation on key topics on the international and regional agenda, including coordinating efforts within the UN, G20, and BRICS, as well as the situation around Ukraine," it added.
READ MORE: Lavrov arrives in South Africa for G20 meeting (VIDEO)
The bilateral meeting comes amid increasing pressure on Pretoria and African nations to isolate Russia due to the Ukraine conflict. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday that she asked Pretoria to "push" Moscow for a "comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine."
Africa's most developed country has insisted on maintaining a non-aligned stance, even when facing the threat of losing access to its American market trade privileges during the administration of former US President Joe Biden. Ramaphosa has instead repeatedly advocated for an end to the Ukraine conflict. In June 2023, he led a delegation of African leaders to Russia and Ukraine, seeking ceasefire commitments from both sides.
In a speech at the G20 meeting on Friday, Lavrov condemned the West for its sanctions on Russia, which have in part "provoked inflation, market failures, and undermined the development opportunities of the Global South."
He accused "neoliberal circles in the West" of neocolonial practices, such as exploiting natural resources from developing countries at low costs, imposing "pseudo-ecological" taxes on their products, and attempting to block cooperation between Africa, Asia, and Latin America with Russia and China.
READ MORE: What should a split state expect from the US this time?
"The five-hundred-year period of Western dominance is irrevocably gone. We must find the strength to accept this objective reality," the foreign minister stated.
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationCAIRO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Tarek Baligh, a 27-year-old graduate in Chinese language, is now the operations manager at China's home...
New Delhi [India] June 29 (ANI): Indian ODI skipper Rohit Sharma expressed his gratitude as India ended an 11-year-long ICC Trophy...
(250629) -- FREETOWN, June 29, 2025 (Xinhua) -- A trainee (L) takes hands-on acupuncture practice under the guidance of an expert from...
Harare [Zimbabwe], June 29 (ANI): Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh held talks with the Indian diaspora...
Petrol and diesel vehicles are being phased out globally and replaced with electric vehicles so that countries can meet their commitments...
New Delhi [India] June 29 (ANI): In Barbados, India ended an 11-year-long ICC Trophy drought, beating South Africa by seven runs to...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - , Australian Federal Police (AFP) have shut down a secret drug lab in Sydney's west and seized more than 100kg...
Moscow [Russia], June 29 (ANI): The much-anticipated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine blew up as the former attempted to gnaw...
Taiwan [Taiwan], June 29 (ANI): Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) called for dialogue and restraint in resolving disputes...
Islamabad [Pakistan], June 29 (ANI): A third earthquake within 24 hours jolted Pakistan on Sunday, a statement by the National Center...
You cannot disinvent Tehrans technical and industrial capabilities, Rafael Grossi has said Iran could resume uranium enrichment within...
Islamabad [Pakistan], June 29 (ANI): An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 jolted Pakistan on Sunday, a statement by the National Center for...