Fikile Mbalula in Russia for forum against neocolonialism
Also, Professor Irina Filatova of UKZN shares her thoughts on Tucker Carlson's recent interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia Moscow Kremlin
African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula will today lead party delegates on a trip to Russia to take part in a forum focusing on combating neocolonialism.
The three-day meeting is expected to recommend the establishment of a forum organising committee headed by Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council.
Meanwhile, in a rare interview with Western media last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin sat down with American journalist Tucker Carlson in the Kremlin.
Putin has since said of the conversation that he expected the journalist to ask tougher questions.
Critics of Carlson agree, slamming him for going 'too easy' on the Russian leader.
Filatova says it was an important interview for several reasons.
"Let's start with who was it directed to? Who was going to listen?"
- Professor Irina Filatova, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Filatova says the conversation was directed at a very specific audience, which included US presidential hopeful, Donald Trump.
"It was directed to the American public and the Europeans."
- Professor Irina Filatova, University of KwaZulu-Natal
The message from Putin was clear, says Filatova.
"There are no countries, there are civilisations with their own specific cultures, traditions, etc etc, they are immutable and that is exactly how the colonial powers presented the African peoples whom they called tribes."
- Professor Irina Filatova, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Putin says Ukraine started the war.
"It was they who started the war in 2014. Our goal is to stop this war. And we did not start this war in 2022. This is an attempt to stop it."
His retelling of history is very selective, says Filatova.
She adds that Putin's message to America is explicit.
"You should not be interested in our affairs. Sit there, mind your own business, allow us to do what we want to do with our neighbours. We are not getting into your business, do not get into our business."
- Professor Irina Filatova, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.