Former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma has thrown his weight behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Jacob G Zuma Foundation, the former ANC leader cited the eastern advancement of NATO and the influence of the United States as reasons good enough for Russia to stamp its feet.
He accused the United States of being a ‘holier than thou’ and of trailing similar roads in the past which has left those countries in ruins.
Zuma said overlords and power players have influenced decisions against the BRICS member nations in the past and also accused those powerful western countries of facilitating his removal from office.
He cited cases in Brazil, India, and South Africa and said China stood strong against such forces because of its stronger economy.
“His Excellency Vladimir Putin has been very patient with the western forces. He has been crystal clear about his opposition of the eastern expansion of NATO into Ukraine, among other areas, and is on record about the military threat listed by Russia by the presence of these forces; if allowed to be on his door step, ” the statement read in part.
“It looks justifiable that Russia felt provoked. It is however unfortunate that His Excellency Vladimir Putin, unlike other small countries has the capacity (in Russia) to respond to security threats in line with the prescripts that are applicable to his country. His actions, whereas justifiable are still a far cry as compared with what other big powers have done when faced with similar situation.
“Some western powers, who are today playing holier than thou have invaded a number of small countries in the world e.g Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya to name but a few. These glaring examples of interference have left those countries in ruins, ” he said.
Zuma in defence of the invasion, said “Russia, a BRICS member country is now in the crosshairs of the bullies. Ukraine is being basically used as a front, so that Russia can be brought to its knees through unjustifiable sanctions.”
He said if any country known to be on a collision course with the US establishes base in any of its adjacent territories, the US would also move to neutralise such threats.