Vladimir Putin said that Russia will provide free cereals to six African countries over several months

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin inaugurated the Russia-Africa summit, hosted in St. Petersburg (northwest), and promised to provide free cereals to six African countries “in the coming months”.

This initiative was taken despite the Western sanctions that, according to its statements, affected the export of cereals and fertilizers in Russia. AFP, EFE and Reuters news sources have reported this information, according to Agerpres.

“In the following months, we will be able to provide free deliveries from 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of cereals to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Centraphrician Republic and Eritrea,” said in his opening speech, broadcast by television. Russian, Putin mentioned that this decision comes as a response to the concerns expressed by the African countries following the recent termination of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian cereals through the Black Sea.

His statements were enthusiastically received by the audience. At the same time, he stressed that Russia will bear the transport costs for these cereals.

Putin revealed that, in the first six months of the current year, Russia has already exported about 10 million tonnes of cereals to Africa and assured that its country will continue to pay special attention to wheat, barley, corn and other cereals. African friends.

Paradoxes

The Russian leader stressed that over 70% of the Ukrainian grain, exported based on the expired agreement, have arrived in high or above average countries, including in the European Union countries. In contrast, poorer countries, such as Sudan, received only a small part, less than 3%, from these deliveries.

Putin has announced that Russia has had a record harvest of cereals this year and that it is ready to replace Ukrainian cereal exports to Africa, either through commercial transactions or through humanitarian donations. He also stressed the critical role of Moscow in ensuring global food security.

The Russian president added that the sanctions imposed by the Western countries following the Russian War in Ukraine, which he calls “special military operation”, prevented Russia from providing free fertilizers to poor countries.

“We observe a paradoxical situation: on the one hand, Western countries block the supply of cereals and fertilizers (through sanctions), and on the other hand, the same countries are hypocritically accused of the current crisis in the global food market,” said Putin .

Gratitude from Africa

Azali Assoumani, the ongoing president of the African Union (UA), thanked Putin for the support offered by Russia to the African continent, mentioning that Moscow’s investments have facilitated the development of many countries. “We are honestly grateful for this,” Assoumani stressed. In reply, Vladimir Putin expressed his hope that the African Union will become a permanent member of the G20. He also assured that Russia is ready to do everything in its power to strengthen the sovereignty of African countries and to help Africa become one of the main partners in a multipolar world.

Putin presides over the Russia-Africa summit, which started on Saint Petersburg on Thursday, and gather about 50 African delegates. This event is expected to signed various agreements and is part of a concerted effort to expand influence and business on the African continent.

Although several African leaders participated in the 2019 summit, representing 49 of the 54 states on the continent, the Kremlin believes that the smaller number of leaders present this year is due to pressures from the US and France.