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Ukraine's Nobel Laureate Wants Closer Ties With South Africa

Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian Nobel Laureate, has urged South Africa to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom, citing shared values and histories of resistance.

Matviichuk, who was in South Africa as one of the key speakers at the 14th Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation Peace Lecture, framed the conflict in Ukraine as a battle between authoritarianism and democracy, rather than a war between nations. She said Russia aims to discredit democracy, human rights, and the rule of law by demonstrating its inability to protect those affected by war. 

South Africa has extensive experience fighting apartheid and human rights violations, and Ukraine is now following Nelson Mandela's example, she wrote: "Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way," she said.

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Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk on how South Africa can help Ukraine.

InFocus

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