With Ukraine and Russia agreeing to meet with each other on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border for talks, perhaps we are starting to see the beginning of peace but after Putin placed his nuclear forces on high alert yesterday, any talks of peace could just be a pie in the sky thought.
As this is being written, talks between the two nations have started reports Reuters.
But why has South Africa been so reluctantly to call out Russia for its invasion of a sovereign nation? It’s a question Adriaan Basson tackles in his latest column where he asks President Cyril Ramaphosa why he is so scared of Russia?
Basson writes that Ramaphosa was apparently furious when the department of international relations and cooperation put out a statement calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine last week.
Ramaphosa reportedly told Russian officials that the department’s statements “doesn’t reflect our position.
Basson: “To many international observers, even this statement didn’t go far enough. Although condemning the invasion – the most basic thing to do – South Africa did not go anywhere near what other democracies did: instituting sanctions, supporting a banking blackout and cutting all trade relations with Russia.”
The News24 editor-in-chief argues that Ramaphosa needs to come clean about his Russian friends…
But one problem we also face is our membership of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and the R25.5 billion we paid in cash to start the BRICS bank, means it might not be that easy for us to simply walk away from Russia.
Meanwhile, on Friday we explained to you how the Ukraine-Russia conflict will affect oil, food and agriculture and interest rates in Africa, and the reading painted a grim picture for the continent.
But George Philipas reckons that the war in Ukraine could provide the South African economy with the tailwinds it needs for an upturn.
Philipas writes that while in the short-term rising food and oil prices will feed into inflation and cause a rise in interest rates, the opposite is also true if the trend continues in the long term.
It’s a very interesting read with good insights from economist Dawie Roodt, who Philipas interviews for his piece. Roodt neatly pieces together the scenarios that could lead to South Africa turning into a very attractive investment destination.
Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:
Mpumelelo Mkhabela | Ukraine invasion: Where does SA’s foreign policy of ‘Ubuntu’ fit in? – News24 (for subscribers)
The case for a global punitive tax on Russian oil and gas – Daily Maverick
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine violates principles enshrined in the UN Charter – Mail & Guardian
WILLIAM GUMEDE | Sorry, Ukraine, the UN hasn’t united nations in a while – Sunday Times Daily (for subscribers)
JUSTICE MALALA | This is not a video game, RET brigade. We will all suffer – Sunday Times Daily (for subscribers)
John Matisonn | Has Putin finally miscalculated? – News24 (for subscribers)
It is a matter of life and death. So the EU will provide weapons for Ukraine’s armed forces – The Guardian
Why Vladimir Putin has already lost this war – The Guardian
