– top Ukranian journalist speaks in Lesotho
Mohloai Mpesi
THE Eurasia Democracy Initiative (UDI) director, Peter Zalmayev, contends that the likelihood of a swift resolution to the extensive conflict between Russia and Ukraine appears to be very low.
During a recent visit to Lesotho, Mr Zalmayev, a Ukrainian national who is a journalist and host of the Pryamy TV channel, shared his insights with the Lesotho Times.
Mr Zalmayev was in Lesotho last week as part of a mission to visit between 35-40 nations in South Pacific and Africa to combat Russia’s propaganda efforts against Ukraine, especially in countries whose people were informed about the Ukraine-Russia war but unfamiliar to Ukrainians.
Since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict has escalated into one of the deadliest wars on European soil, resulting in nearly a million casualties, both dead and wounded.
Mr Zalmayev emphasized that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, continued to disseminate propaganda worldwide, portraying his actions as a fight against Western imperialism.
Mr Zalmayev said he was committed to countering these pervasive falsehoods to win support from African nations and beyond.
Mr Zalmayev said Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, anticipated to visit South Africa on April 10, 2025, for discussions aimed at achieving lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.
However, Mr Zalmayev expressed scepticism about the possibility of enduring peace, despite the involvement of U.S. President Donald Trump, who Mr Zalmayev claimed was eager to see the conflict resolved, although it was unrealistic to expect an end to the war within a mere 24 hours as Mr Trump had promised during his presidential campaign.
In early March, President Zelensky engaged in a contentious exchange with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the White House.
In the interview, Mr Zalmayev discussed his efforts to counter Russian narratives in Africa against Ukraine.
He stated: “Russia has maintained a foothold on this continent since the Soviet era, and it is currently working to advance its narratives in Africa. Meanwhile, Ukraine has recognized the necessity of articulating its own narratives and engaging with the local populace, which is the purpose of my mission.”
Mr Zalmayev said he was traveling throughout African countries including Lesotho, a place previously unvisited by Ukrainians, yet where the residents were well-informed about Ukraine.
“I am going to locations that most Ukrainians overlook, yet where people possess a significant understanding of Ukraine. The goal is to prevent the Russians from seizing the initiative. They are promoting a grand narrative that positions them as leaders in a global struggle against Western imperialism. We must contextualize this, especially with the changing dynamics brought about by Trump,” he said.
Mr Zalmayev noted that Russia had invested substantial resources in crafting propaganda aimed at winning the support of Africans.
“Trump is making a multitude of statements that create the impression of an alliance between him and Putin. In reality, Russia is instigating a new imperialist conflict against Ukraine, attempting to mask it with rhetoric designed to win over the hearts and minds of Africans, including South Africans and Basotho. They are highly active and have allocated significant funds to their propaganda efforts,” Mr Zalmayev asserted.
Scope of efforts
Regarding the scope of his efforts, Mr Zalmayev explained: “In my modest endeavour to visit 35 to 40 countries, I do not expect to be highly impactful as it is essentially a one-man operation. However, if we can gather enough people, no location on earth is insignificant. We should engage with every nation and converse with individuals such as taxi drivers, journalists, and politicians, which is precisely what I am doing.”
He added: “Their (Russians’) misinformation is intricate; it is not a single message but rather customized to resonate with different audiences.”
The Ukrainian expressed hope that African nations would continue supporting Ukraine’s resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly.
He noted that it was promising for South Africa’s President Ramaphosa to host President Zelensky next month.
“We anticipate African countries will persist in voting for Ukraine’s resolutions at the UN, as Russia tries to undermine this consensus within the General Assembly,” he stated.
He said it was encouraging that President Ramaphosa had chosen to meet with Mr Zelensky.
That, according to Mr Zalmayev, indicated that South Africa was prepared to pursue its own interests and keep its options flexible, despite being a member of BRICS, which did not obligate it to align with Russia’s stance.
Mr Zalmayev warned that if Russia succeeded in Ukraine, the repercussions would be felt globally.
The notion that powerful nations should not dictate terms to smaller countries would be heavily compromised.
He added that Ukraine had chosen to engage more proactively with African countries.
Mr Zalmayev expressed scepticism about a lasting peace agreement materializing soon, as he believed Mr Putin embodied a war-oriented leadership style.
He predicted limited ceasefires, which Putin would likely exploit by accusing Ukraine of breaches using deceptive tactics. He stated that until Putin accomplished his objectives in Ukraine, it was unlikely that he would relent.
Media
Mr Zalmayev, an expert political commentator, stated that numerous journalists had lost their lives while covering frontline soldiers in Ukraine.
He emphasized the perilous situation in the country, noting that even the capital, Kyiv, was under threat from Russia’s lethal ballistic missiles.
“Our colleagues have tragically died in unprecedented numbers while reporting from the front lines,” Mr Zalmayev said.
“Even in Kyiv, one can still be at risk, as Russia’s ballistic missiles, traveling at speeds of up to 4km per second, can strike any location in Ukraine or Europe within minutes. No area is truly safe.”
Mr Zalmayev remarked that survival had become increasingly challenging, not just for personal safety but also for the economic viability of media organizations operating in the conflict zone.
He observed that Russia had evolved from an authoritarian regime to a more totalitarian state over the past three years, while Ukraine continued to strive to uphold its liberal democracy.
Donald Trump
In the interview, Mr Zalmayev said he suspected that President Trump was ‘rushing’ to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict in a bid to secure the Nobel Peace Prize, much like former President Barack Obama did in 2009. Mr Zalmayev contended that Mr Trump’s handling of the crisis reflected his personal interests rather than those of the U.S.
“The Republicans and Congress align with him out of fear of opposing his views, even when he makes absurd claims such as ‘Ukraine started the war,” Mr Zalmayev stated.
“This is a blatant falsehood, yet no Republican challenges it, illustrating how Trump has taken control of the party.”
He said President Trump was eager to swiftly conclude the war to showcase himself as an exceptional dealmaker.
“Putin shares this desire, as he prefers that major powers dictate the outcomes for smaller nations. Trump believes that by reaching an agreement with Putin and demonstrating Ukraine’s subordinate position, they can impose terms on Ukraine, shake hands, reestablish relations, lift sanctions on Russia, and ultimately secure his Nobel Peace Prize,” he said.
However, Mr Zalmayev said a resolution to the conflict would not be reached until President Putin engaged in genuine negotiations for peace.
“Regrettably, there is no straightforward solution, nor will there be a quick fix as Trump has suggested. The situation is complex. The most viable approach is to continue supplying Ukraine with sufficient weaponry to resist, preventing a Russian victory,” he said.
“Consequently, Putin will realize the necessity of negotiation. Compromises will need to be made, but not those he proposes, as they would undermine the credibility of the Western alliance, including NATO and the European Union. Unfortunately, there is no simple resolution to this crisis.”
