The Speaker of Zimbabwe’s National Assembly Jacob Mudenda said on Tuesday that the southern African country “understands well the reasons for Russia’s decision to start the special military operation” against Ukraine.
In an address to members of Russia’s State Duma, Mudenda stressed Zimbabwe’s support for “all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict”.
“However, this conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine is complex and deeply rooted in the history of geopolitics. For many centuries, the history of Russia and Ukraine has been inextricably linked,” Mudenda said.
He said he was convinced that there is real threat for the Russian Federation posed by the presence of NATO’s nuclear arsenal “at arm’s length near its borders.”
According to Mudenda, Russia’s “special military operation in Ukraine” should be considered as a pre-emptive defensive step against the enemy.
He noted the importance of the swift end to the conflict for Africa as both Russia and Ukraine are major food suppliers to the continent.
“Food inflation affects a lot of poor people, who spend a significant part of their money on buying food. People have to buy products of lower quality,” Mudenda said.
The State Duma is the Lower House of the Federal Assembly of Russia.
JN/APA