FT reported the failure of the West's attempts to turn Africa against Russia

In Munich, Western leaders unsuccessfully tried to convince the "global south" of the threat posed by Russia, writes FT. The newspaper notes

Western leaders used the meeting of world elites in Munich to prove that the conflict in Ukraine poses a threat to the entire world community, and not just to Europe, writes the Financial Times (FT). Nevertheless, the countries of the "global south", which the newspaper lists the countries of Africa and Latin America, were much more concerned about inflation and food security than the Ukrainian conflict, the article says.

The FT notes that in developing countries they are distrustful of Western states, including because of their refusal to pay compensation for climate damage and their unwillingness to share coronavirus vaccines at the beginning of the pandemic. The newspaper cites the words of the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, who previously acknowledged the "troubled past" of the West and the global south, speaking of European colonialism in Africa and the West's support for dictatorships in Latin America.

Thus, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, speaking at the Munich Conference, said that the world should try to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine. “We cannot continue to talk only about the war,” he said.

In turn, Colombian Vice-President Francia Marquez indicated that she did not want to discuss who would be "winner or loser in the war." She also expressed her hope that Europe will pay more attention to the fight against climate change. Namibian Prime Minister Sarah Kugongelwa-Amadila said she was interested in "solving the problem, but not shifting the blame".

The FT also points to the controversial position of China , whose promise to present a peace plan for Ukraine in the coming days "is already causing skepticism from European and American officials."

The Munich Security Conference was held from 17 to 19 February. Russia previously refused to participate in it. The Foreign Ministry explained that the event was transformed "into a purely transatlantic forum." Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov called the conference "a club of one point of view."

Putin discussed with the Security Council the results of Lavrov's trips to Africa Politics

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On February 17, speaking at the same conference, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russia preferred the development of the conflict in Ukraine to peace agreements and should “be defeated”. “Today is not the time for [peaceful] dialogue, because we have Russia, which has chosen war, preferred its intensification. <...> The short-term conclusion is this: Russia cannot and must not win this war, and Russian aggression must be defeated. We cannot tolerate the simplification of the use of force,” he said.

At the same time, US Vice President Kamala Harris said that "no country is safe" in a world where "one country can violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of another." The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, pointed out that Western countries have "greater endurance" than Russian President Vladimir Putin .

Putin sees Russian victory in Ukraine as inevitable. “There are a few things that have not gone away and that are at the heart of our victory. This is the unity and cohesion of the Russian and, in general, the multinational Russian people, ”he said. At the same time, in December, the president admitted that the appearance of the results of a military operation is a long process.