South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has explained his country’s decision to abstain from voting against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations.

On Monday, Mr Ramaphosa, in his weekly open letter to the public, said that negotiation, dialogue and compromise were ‘out of touch’.

Mr Ramaphosa maintained that South Africa had attained democracy through a negotiated settlement.

“South Africa abstained from voting in last week’s United Nations resolution on the escalating conflict between Russia and its neighbour Ukraine because the resolution did not foreground the call for meaningful engagement,” the letter said. 

Mr Ramaphosa said his country’s experience from apartheid contributed to it’s decision last week at the UN’s emergency meeting, adding that South Africa is committed to advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms.  

“Our own experience with ending apartheid, and our country’s role in mediating conflict elsewhere on the continent, have yielded a number of insights,” Mr Ramaphosa said.

Last week, South Africa abstained from voting against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the emergency special session of the United Nations.

South Africa’s representative to the UN, Mathu Joyini, explained that the resolution did not create a conducive setting for “diplomacy, dialogue, and mediation.”