Despite facing economic restrictions from Western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to ensuring global food security by offering tons of grain to African nations.
During a speech at a Russia-Africa conference in St. Petersburg, Putin stated that Russia was ready to fill the void left by Ukrainian grain shipments to Africa, both on commercial and humanitarian grounds.
During the summit, President Putin announced that Russia would provide 25-50,000 tonnes of free grain each to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic, and Eritrea in the next few months. Notably, Sudan and Chad were not included in the list, despite their need for assistance.
Some of the named countries already have strong ties with Moscow, and despite Zimbabwe having enough food for its own needs, its president expressed gratitude for the gesture.
Russia’s first Africa summit in 2019 marked the beginning of intensified efforts to expand its business and influence on the continent.
Despite facing challenges like its Wagner mercenary organization’s activities and the fallout from the failed rebellion, Russia is still committed to engaging with African leaders and nations.
Putin addressed Western criticism of Russia’s decision to abandon the Black Sea grain arrangement with Ukraine which used to transit grain through Russian seaports. Russia’s deployment of soldiers to Ukraine led to the deal’s termination, and its shelling of the Danube river ports further complicated the situation.
This development caused a 10% increase in world wheat prices in just ten days. Putin argued that most of the grain from Ukraine’s exports went to nations with above-average incomes, while the poorest nations, including Sudan, received a minimal share.
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Russia boasted significant participation at the conference, with representatives from 49 out of Africa’s 54 states attending, including 17 heads of state and four heads of government. The Kremlin suggested that Western attempts to dissuade attendance were only partially successful, as more leaders participated compared to the 2019 summit.
President William Ruto of Kenya who had earlier criticized Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal, chose not to attend.
Some African politicians expressed grave concerns about Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine and its implications for global stability. Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga stressed that Africa cannot remain neutral in the face of aggression and emphasized the need for a firm stance on the matter
Despite facing economic pressures from Western sanctions, President Putin remains steadfast in Russia’s commitment to ensuring global food security. Offering generous grain aid to select African nations, Moscow seeks to strengthen its influence on the continent while navigating through the controversy surrounding the Black Sea grain deal.
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However, concerns from African leaders about Russia’s actions in Ukraine point out the complexities of the situation and its potential impact on international relations.
