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Zimbabwe and Russia have stepped up building on relations forged with liberation movements in Soviet times. Russia has been cultivating strong ties with Zimbabwe in a number of areas such as education, defence, mining, trade and diplomacy. In this report, Herald Correspondent Gibson Nyikadzino (GN) speaks with Russia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Nikolai Krasilnikov (NK), about Zim-Russia relations, Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, the BRICS coalition and the way forward for the developing countries in the unfolding multipolar scenario.

GN: Two years later, the military operation is still going on. What will it take to stop this operation?

NK: The special military operation was initiated not to start the war, but to stop the war that was started in 2014 by the Kiev regime. The operation’s goal is to secure Ukraine’s neutral status, demilitarising and de-Nazifying the Kiev regime to guarantee Russia’s security interests being threatened by NATO’s eastward expansion.

No one should lose a loved one because of war. However, the situation in Ukraine is escalated by NATO’s expansion. In 2022 there were talks in Istanbul (Turkey) by Russian and Ukrainian officials to negotiate an end to the war, but Ukraine issued a decree that criminalised its officials who were to be negotiating with Russia.

GN: So what is stopping a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis?

NK: Before the decree to ban Ukrainian officials from negotiating a peace deal, the Kiev regime had already been involved in talks at its own request and it was ready to sign specific agreements with Russia, drafted with its own input. However, the Kiev regime refused to do this following a British and US ban and subsequently passed legislation that made it impossible to negotiate with Russia.

Washington and other capitals have recently been clear that the West is waging a war with Russia, which must be “put in its place” by the hands of the Ukrainians without losing the lives of its soldiers.

The Kiev regime is using Western weapons to perpetrate bloody terrorist attacks against peaceful Russian cities.

The war is not likely to stop. The West viewed Ukraine as a defensive wall in front of Russia. Based on this mindset, everything that is linked with Ukraine must be used to inflict a strategic defeat of Russia.

GN: From the talks in Istanbul, there must be terms discussed. What were the terms? How did you perceive the terms?

NK: Let me remind you that we have never renounced peaceful methods and have always been ready for negotiations. But the anticipated talks should be about eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian tragedy. For example, the peace terms that the Kiev regime proposed (through the West) in the Zelensky Formula consists a series of ultimatums targeting Russia. 

They are trying to force us withdraw from the liberated territories (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhia) and abandon Russians who voted to reunite with their homeland. This would amount to handing them over to the vicious Ukrainian nationalists. They want to hold a tribunal over our country and confiscate assets that belong to us from Western banks where they are deposited.

All the so-called peace plans, platforms and formulas that the Kiev regime and its masters are still futilely pursuing have no connection to peace whatsoever and only serve as a cover for the effort to perpetuate the war and bleed Western taxpayers for money.

The Kiev regime together with the G7 members are using deceit to persuade the countries of the Global South and East to support the would-be peaceful proposals stemming from the so-called Zelensky Formula, an infamously odious framework. 

Kiev and its masters have monopolised the right to put forward peace initiatives, effectively blocking all reasonable ideas from other countries, primarily from the Global South.

GN: Besides Western taxpayers bleeding financially, African countries have also been made vulnerable by this conflict. The West wants to punish Africa for what it says it is an association with Russia. How is Africa placed in this? 

NK:  Russia is grateful for the international support it has received and is receiving from partners in Africa. We fully understand the reality of the situation that they will not allow themselves to be drawn into openly anti-Russian initiatives.

We are also thankful for the support we have received from Zimbabwe at international fora. Zimbabwe and Russia must continue supporting each other. Russia’s initiatives to support Africa are being hampered by sanctions imposed on fertiliser manufacturing firms. This is making the continent vulnerable because some consignments are taking time to reach Africa because of these impediments.

GN: So what is the way forward? Where does the alternative lie?

NK:  We must make use of the unfolding multipolar world to avoid the western financial architecture. The BRICS group of countries is the alternative. We will win against the West. The group is now discussing about the bloc’s own currency measures. This is key also for Zimbabwe to make use of. The New Development Bank by BRICS is expanding that initiative and Zimbabwe expressed interest to join the bank.

We should not cry about sanctions though they are upsetting. They affect the ordinary people and the economy, but we should emerge stronger.

GN: How do you measure Zimbabwe-Russia relations?

NK:  Excellent! Zimbabwe-Russia relations are healthy and well nourished. To boost trade, these relations are anchoring on the foundation of resisting Western economic pressure by encouraging businesses from both countries to enhance commercial engagements.

For example, there are wheat and fertiliser consignments delivered to Zimbabwe. These should not be treated as humanitarian aid or relief. 

They are symbolic of the two parties’ desire to ignite commercial cooperation between Zimbabwean and Russian companies. So our governments are pushing companies to exploit commercial opportunities set by our excellent bilateral relations. 

Russia has surplus wheat and fertiliser. It is good for companies to commercially gain from this.

GN: Lastly, your message to Zimbabwe.

NK:  We are thankful for having Zimbabwe as a reliable international partner. We work excellently. Above all, we are thankful for the invitation Russia and Russian civil society groups received to observe Zimbabwe’s elections last year. 

We reciprocated by inviting ZEC officials and parliamentarians to observe our processes in our presidential elections. These mutual exchanges are key in deepening our relations.