Lavrov Hails South Africa’s Ukraine Stance, Defends Maneuvers
- South Africa says held similar exercises with UK, US, France
- Country says it hasn’t abandoned neutral stance on Ukraine
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed South Africa’s “independent and balanced” stance on the war in Ukraine while on his latest diplomatic mission to Africa to counter US and European efforts to isolate his nation.
Lavrov briefed his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor on the conflict on Monday, and rebutted criticism of plans by South Africa, Russia and China to hold naval exercises off South Africa’s east coast, saying they were being conducted in a “transparent” manner. The two nations signed a new cooperation agreement, but didn’t provide any details.