Zuma criticizes Trump over genocide claims
'There is no genocide in South Africa, nothing, absolutely nothing. I take it that when people talk about genocide, it is when many people die. There is nothing of that nature in South Africa,' said Zuma during a media briefing in Durban on Tuesday.
'[Trump] just talks when he wants to talk, anything. I thought he would know better what genocide is. Now, for him to say so, it's just a joke really,' he added.
Zuma told journalists in a media briefing in Durban on Tuesday that Trump was the least of his concerns when he was asked about his views on the US president.
'Why should I worry myself about Trump? We have serious problems here to fix this country. No, I'm not going to talk about that,' Zuma said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently led a South African delegation to Washington in a bid to reset bilateral relations between the two nations.
This comes after organisations claimed that there was a genocide against the white Afrikaners.
The government clarified to the US that there was no evidence of genocide in the country.
Meanwhile, the MK Party has removed Floyd Shivambu as the secretary-general, confirming that he will be deployed in Parliament.First published by IOL
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Russia Today
3 minutes ago
- Russia Today
Why the Alaska summit matters for Africa, too
For three years, Brussels and its media outlets have been repeating the same refrain: Vladimir Putin is isolated, marginalized, and weakened by sanctions. A propaganda narrative that poorly hides the failure of Brussel's diplomacy reduced to blindly following Washington. Yet, the image that will remain in history is not that of a solitary Putin, but of a Russian president welcomed with full military honors in the United States, in Alaska, by Donald Trump on August 15th. A summit that, beyond its symbolism, marks a stinging humiliation for the EU and announces a shift in the global balance of power. Since February 2022, Brussels has multiplied 'punitive' sanctions against Moscow. Seventeen successive packages, often absurd, even targeting African activists such as such as Nathalie Yamb and myself, accused of denouncing Western interference and defending Russian-African cooperation. Meanwhile, Russia has consolidated its partnerships with the BRICS, expanded its trade with Asia, strengthened its presence in the Middle East, and built durable alliances in Africa. Putin's arrival in Alaska definitively demolishes the myth of 'isolation.' The real world is not the one described on European talk shows. In reality, Moscow is engaged in dialogue with New Delhi, Beijing, Tehran, Brasilia, Pretoria, and numerous African capitals. And now, the Kremlin is back at the center of the American stage, driven by Trump. The scene will remain unforgettable. The Russian Air Force One landing on American soil. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov appearing in a sweatshirt emblazoned with 'USSR,' an intentional nod to history and Russia's collective memory. Then the most striking image: Vladimir Putin, personally welcomed by Donald Trump on a red carpet, as F-22s and a stealth B-2 Spirit bomber symbolically flew overhead. A protocol that even Washington's traditional allies no longer enjoy. Where Macron, Merz, or von der Leyen are received with distance, Putin was treated as a true head of state one whose presence commands respect and gravity. At the close of the press conference, the meeting produced an exchange that speaks volumes about the atmosphere: Donald Trump: 'We'll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon. Thank you very much, Vladimir'. Vladimir Putin, in English: 'Next time in Moscow.' 'Oh, that's an interesting one,' Trump replied. 'I'll get a little heat for that one. But I could see it possibly happening.' This brief exchange highlights the fundamental difference with European leaders: here, no condescension, no paternalism, no empty threats. Just two leaders assuming their responsibilities, seeking pragmatic solutions, aware that the future is decided between great powers not in the corridors of Brussels. The message is crystal clear. While the European Union believed itself to be indispensable in managing the Ukrainian crisis, it was not even invited. The Alaska summit took place without it without its diplomats, without its arrogant commissioners, without its pseudo-peace initiatives that were never credible. The EU is in decline: diplomatically, economically, strategically. It clings to a subordinate role, piling up sanctions and bellicose rhetoric, hoping to exist through endless wars. But in reality, Washington has never considered Brussels a strategic partner, only a docile executor. The Trump-Putin meeting is glaring proof of this. This diplomatic shift now puts Ukraine in a corner. Trump has been clear: he wants to end the war launched by the Biden administration, which turned Kiev into a proxy against Moscow. The United States has no interest in prolonging a long and costly war that undermines its economy and fuels internal divisions. Zelensky's image has crumbled amid scandals and growing international fatigue. Despite the veneer of respect and lionization given to him by Western public figures, he finds himself with little real power to decide anything, even when it concerns his own country, now that even Washington is preparing to move on from him. Trump knows perfectly well that Zelensky's Ukraine is just a pawn and that the bill must be settled. Another key takeaway from this summit is Vladimir Putin's diplomatic stature. In the midst of a military operation in Ukraine, despite relentless demonization campaigns, he has imposed himself as the man with whom great powers must reckon. His strategy is clear: extend a hand to Trump to build a framework for cooperation, emphasize the natural neighborhood between Russia and the United States via Alaska, and propose an honorable way out of the Ukrainian crisis. Putin plays the pragmatism card, investing in time and patience while the EU persists in ideology, russophobia, and moralizing postures. Unsurprisingly, CNN and other Atlanticist media tried to distort reality. According to them, Trump was 'humiliated' by Putin. But the images circulating on social media speak for themselves: two men smiling, shaking hands, visibly satisfied with their meeting. Western propaganda tries to turn every gesture into conflict, every handshake into confrontation. But the truth is simple: Russia and the United States, at a strategic level, are closer to an agreement than NATO-aligned propagandists are willing to admit. Brussels would do well to meditate on this lesson. Washington has never saved its allies. From Kabul to Baghdad, from Saigon to Kiev, the White House always abandons those who believe they can rely on it. Americans know they cannot afford a direct war against the Russian army, supported by a people hardened and seasoned by history. The Alaska summit marks a turning point. It reveals an undeniable truth: global diplomacy is now being shaped without Europe. Under Trump, the United States may well reestablish ties with Moscow to end a useless and ruinous war. Putin emerges from this meeting stronger than ever, proving he was never isolated and remains the most respected and formidable head of state on the world stage. As for the EU, it finds itself exposed to a posture of mere spectator, humiliated by its own illusions. Its blind obedience to Washington has led it to a dead end. Russia, meanwhile, continues to move forward. And history will remember that in Alaska, two men opened a path toward peace leaving the European warmongers behind. The Alaska summit has been perceived by many Africans as a revealing moment about the true nature of global power relations. What emerges is a fundamental truth: on the world stage, power only recognizes and respects power. Russia, through its sovereignty, military capability, and the firmness of its leadership, compelled Washington to treat it as an equal. Normally, the United States imposes its will through threats, interference, or military force. But in the case of Russia, a major nuclear power led by a patriot, Washington restrains itself and dares not employ its usual methods. For Africans, this event is more than a simple diplomatic episode: it embodies both a moral victory and a political lesson. It shows that only genuine independence, backed by economic, political, and military strength, can command respect in international affairs. This is why the summit resonates so strongly across Africa. It confirms that Western domination is not inevitable and that a multipolar world is possible. Seeing Russia stand firm inspires hope that, one day, a united and sovereign Africa will also be able to command respect and defend its interests with dignity.
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
Why Putin walked away satisfied from Alaska
The meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska may go down as one of Russia's most significant diplomatic wins. It was secured through years of military sacrifice, political perseverance, and relentless effort. Yet it is also a transition – a step into a new stage of the struggle for sovereign states in a fractured world. The most consequential result of Anchorage was the quiet burial of the West's old formula: isolating and 'strategically defeating' Russia. For decades, any state refusing to fall in line risked ostracism. That system cracked in Alaska. Not because of American goodwill – there is no such thing in international politics – but because of pressure. Pressure from Russia, from the so-called 'global majority,' and from the turmoil tearing at America itself. Trump's administration has shifted its approach, and the summit proved it. The outcome was clear: American capabilities diminished, Russian ones enhanced. This, in turn, frees space for other nations to act more independently, even if they will not admit their debt to Moscow. Some talk of a 'renaissance' in relations between Moscow and Washington. But there is nothing to restore. The ties that existed before 2022 were shaped by the USSR's defeat in the Cold War, and cannot be recreated. Instead, dialogue will stabilize on new terms. The core will be recognition that Russia cannot be excluded from the international system. This simple fact means disputes between Moscow and the West, however sharp, are solvable in principle. Competition will remain fierce, especially over Ukraine. But after Anchorage, the Western refusal to acknowledge Russian interests is no longer an insurmountable barrier. For Trump, Alaska delivered something equally valuable: a domestic win. In the US, relations with Russia have become central to the internal political struggle. One camp insists on preserving an ideological monopoly at all costs. The other argues for flexibility. Trump belongs to the latter – and needed a visible success to show his critics. The face-to-face meeting with Putin provided it. He strengthened his position at home, showing that he can engage Washington directly while sidestepping Western Europe. Foreign policy has always mattered more in Russia, domestic politics more in America. Each man walked away with what he most needed. It is tempting to compare Trump to Mikhail Gorbachev, who sought to win approval abroad through concessions. But the comparison fails. Gorbachev compromised when he didn't need to, given foreign policy's secondary role for a Soviet leader. Trump, by contrast, is locked in a domestic fight, and Alaska was part of it. America's strong economic base gives him confidence that international losses can later be reversed. Russia, with a less flexible economy, weighs foreign policy gains and setbacks much more heavily. Now that Putin and Trump have steadied the bilateral relationship, the American–Russian rivalry enters a new phase. It will remain sharp. But the summit proved one thing: Russia cannot be defeated or sidelined. The world is not interested in the collapse of either the United States or Russia. What it does demand is stability – and recognition that global order cannot exist without Moscow. Anchorage was no final peace. But it was a victory, on both sides. For Russia, it was proof that perseverance and strength can bend the world's most powerful adversary toward dialogue. For Trump, it was ammunition in his domestic political war. Together, these outcomes make the summit not a conclusion, but the opening chapter of a new, unpredictable article was first published by the magazine Profile and was translated and edited by the RT team.
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
Putin briefs Modi on Alaska summit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for 'sharing insights' on his recent summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska. Modi commented on his call with the Russian leader in a post on X on Monday, reiterating New Delhi's hopes for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. Putin and Trump met in Anchorage on Friday in their first face-to-face encounter since 2018, with ways of resolving the Ukraine conflict topping the agenda. The Russian president described the talks as 'frank' and 'substantive,' while Trump said they were 'warm.' In his post on Monday, Modi said India 'has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict' and supports all efforts in this regard. 'I look forward to our continued exchanges in the days to come,' he added. Thank my friend, President Putin, for his phone call and for sharing insights on his recent meeting with President Trump in Alaska. India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard. I look forward to our… On Saturday, India's Foreign Ministry welcomed the outcome of the Alaska summit, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward and echoing calls for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Putin and Modi spoke just hours before Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky and several Western European leaders were scheduled to hold talks with Trump at the White House on Monday. Earlier this month, the US targeted India for purchasing Russian oil. The South Asian nation has emerged as the second-largest buyer of Russian crude after China since 2023. Trump imposed 25% duties on Indian exports as a 'penalty' for importing Russian oil, in addition to a 25% blanket tariff on Indian goods imposed on July 31. The additional duties are expected to come into effect on August 27.
