Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to send grain to Africa which has strong ties with Moscow.
Putin made the pledge at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg that in the next three to four months Russia will be ready to provide, free of charge, a supply of 25,000-50,000 tonnes of grain each to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Eritrea, delivered “at no cost.”
Official delegations from African countries have arrived to St. Petersburg to participate in the Second Russia-Africa Summit.
Putin in his remarks at summit said that he will continue supplying wheat, barley, corn and other grain crops to the African friends and he criticised west for accusing Russia of the current crisis on the global food market.
“We are witnessing a paradox. On the one hand, the West seeks to block our grain and fertiliser exports, while accusing us of the current crisis on the global food market. This is outright hypocrisy,” Putin said in his remarks in the Plenary Session of the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.
Russian Embassy in Uganda commented that the country exported 11.5 mln tons of grain to Africa in 2022 and almost 10 mln tons in the first 6 months of 2023.
All this has been taking place despite the illegal sanctions imposed on our exports, Putin said, which constitute a serious impediment for exporting Russian food.
The Russian government shows an interest in further deepening multifaceted trade, investment and humanitarian ties with the continent.
Russia-Africa trade reached €18 billion last year.
Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain agreement has been internationally condemned, as it revived fears of rising grain and food prices.
However Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said that “notwithstanding the sanctions, Russia will continue its energetic efforts to provide supplies of grain, food products, fertilizers, and other goods to Africa.”
Last year Russia’s trade with African countries in agricultural products increased by 10% to $6.7 billion, and has already demonstrated “record growth” in January-June of this year by increasing 60%, as Putin claims.
