SA diplomacy with Ukraine ‘moving in right direction’

Having just passed the three-year mark since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, we speak to Ukrainian Ambassador to South Africa Liubov Abravitova about this unpleasant anniversary.

How do you feel about the fact that the Russia-Ukraine war is ongoing three years later?

I feel proud. This war was meant to be a three-day war, yet here we are three years later, still fighting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There has been immense resilience in getting to this point where we’re still fighting back.

What has the impact been on Ukrainians?

The civilian population has become a target of Russian invasion. The impact has been diverse because the war has had different phases. There has been much existential tension. Russian forces have targeted Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including the country’s energy system with missile attacks.

Similarly, the damage to heritage is on a scale not been seen since the likes of World War II. Objects of cultural heritage have been destroyed, and we can never rebuild that.

President Zelenskyy said tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in the war and thousands have gone missing. What’s the real figure, and what do you believe has happened to those who are missing? 

We don’t have precise statistics because Ukrainian territory is under occupation of Russian forces, so while we have a rough estimate, we don’t know all the exact figures.

For the first six months, there was much international and South African media around the war, but this has subsided substantially over time. Why do you believe that happened, and how do you feel about it?

The world quickly saw the effects of Russian aggression. Some of the strongest economies in the world criticised Russia for what it has been doing. The world cannot handle Russian aggression anymore, so I believe that we need to continue to halt the impact of Russian aggression.

What’s your relationship like with the South African government? How often do you meet its ministers or representatives?

Due to Russian aggression, we have been able to increase dialogue with the South African government. South Africa’s history has been based on dialogue since the end of apartheid. South Africa opened the process of dialogue, and we have regular political consultation. Diplomatic action is moving in the right direction.

The South African government is always going on about Israel’s war on Hamas but not paying much attention to the Russian-Ukraine war. Why do you think that is, and how do you feel about it?

Ukraine has just recently become the focus of many African countries because of Russian aggression. I don’t feel like we weren’t given priority by South Africa. Traditionally, Africa is very African-centric. Ukraine was somewhat unknown until the collapse of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). From then, South Africans had to become more educated about Eastern Europe and the role of Ukraine in the struggle against apartheid. So, it’s no surprise that Ukraine wasn’t really on South Africa’s radar.

People compare the two wars (as in question 6). Do you believe them to be comparable?

I don’t believe any war is comparable. It doesn’t bring us anywhere.

How do you think the South African government could better help Ukraine?

There are practical ways while the invasion continues. Ukraine has thousands of kilometres contaminated with landmines and other explosive remnants of war because of the Russian invasion. We need to remove these contaminants so that there isn’t a threat to civilians and then we can restart the agricultural sector.

We also need support to bring Ukrainian children back. More than 19 000 children were kidnapped and taken into Russian territory and haven’t been with their families for such a long time.

There is also the issue of prisoners of war. We need facilitation to bring our heroes back home.

When all is done and we can start the process of the reconstruction of Ukraine, we will need foreign intervention. I believe South African businesses should be given equal opportunity to help rebuild Ukraine.

What can South African Jewry do to help Ukraine?

The most important thing is to be loud and protective of the values we have and share – humanity, equality, and solidarity to protect the rules of civil society that all of us are bound to.

We need to build dialogue between the South African Jewish community and Ukrainian civil society. We must also build platforms to uphold the voice of Ukrainians who have been impacted by this war and are far from Ukraine.

What do you make of United States President Donald Trump’s recent vicious verbal attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy?

Trump is trying to deliver on his promises made during the US election campaign to end the war with Russia in Ukraine by any means. For Ukrainians, this war cannot end by any means. We must rely on the rules of the United Nations Charter. There cannot be discussions of peace without those core values. Trump’s effort to make Russia withdraw from territory should reach its goal only when there’s a guarantee of Ukrainian sovereignty.

What do you believe will bring this war to an end?

The only way this war will end is when the Russian Federation moves out of Ukrainian territory. If Ukraine stops fighting back, it won’t exist.

What will it take to get Ukraine back on its feet after the war?

A lot of solidarity and unity. Ukrainian society already has that inside Ukraine. We would also need the support of those who fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, and we need them to come back. We need the solidarity of our partners who have stuck with us throughout the war. Similarly, we need the support of the world, which will guarantee our protection to ensure that there isn’t another violent attack like there was three years ago at the start of the war.