South Africas Ramaphosa: dialogue only way to solve Ukraine war

div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpJOHANNESBURG Reuters – South Africa sees dialogue as the only way to solve the Ukraine conflict, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday, reiterating his countrys position on the war after talks in Pretoria with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.p

pSouth Africa abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution against Russias invasion of Ukraine and has resisted calls to condemn Russia.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

p“Engagement, dialogue and negotiation. I dont see any other way other than negotiation and dialogue,” Ramaphosa told a news conference standing alongside Scholz.p

pUkraine and allies including Germany say the war is an unprovoked act of aggression, whereas Russia calls it actions a “special military operation” to weaken its neighbours military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.p

pSouth Africa has close historical ties to Moscow because of the Soviet Unions support for the antiapartheid struggle and sees itself as a champion of the nonaligned movement.p

pSouth Africa is the third and final leg of Scholzs first Africa tour since becoming chancellor in December. Germany is South Africas secondlargest trading partner and a major source of tourist arrivals.p

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pp Writing by Alexander Winning Editing by James Macharia Chegep

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