Putin Assures Africa will not starve.

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Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, promised that “Africa will not starve” after his nation withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative last week.

The two-day Russia Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum is where Putin will be hosting African leaders of state in a few days, at the time he was speaking.

In his speech, Putin asserted that the grain agreement was merely a self-serving arrangement that he could change because Russia was anticipating a bountiful harvest.

“I want to give assurances that our country is capable of replacing the Ukrainian grain both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis, especially as we expect another record harvest this year.

Read also: Forgive them lord because we will not’- Ukraine vows retaliation after Russian strikes destroy church and UNESCO historical sites in Odesa

“Notwithstanding the sanctions, Russia will continue its energetic efforts to provide supplies of grain, food products, fertilizers and other goods to Africa,” he said.

Russia claimed that its conditions had not been met and refused to prolong the initiative, which allowed grain to be transported from Ukraine to other regions of the world via the Black Sea.

It also demanded that the deal enhance its own imports of wheat and fertiliser and that the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) be hooked to the SWIFT global payment system.

It further charged that by not complying with Moscow’s requests, the West was restricting its ability to aid less developed countries

Only Kenya and Malawi, according to Putin, have so far benefited from its fertilizer.

He said:

Moreover, barriers have been mounted even to our attempts to supply free-of-charge mineral fertilizers to the poorest countries in need. Of [the] 262 000 tonnes of goods blocked in European ports, only two shipments were delivered – one of 20 000 tonnes to Malawi and one of 34 000 tonnes to Kenya. The rest is still unscrupulously held by the Europeans. And this is a purely humanitarian initiative we are talking about.

According to Putin, relationships with African nations are based on their struggles for independence, shared defence capabilities, mutual trust, and goodwill for future generations.

“I would like to specifically mention the traditionally close cooperation on the world stage, the firm and consistent advocacy rendered by the USSR and then Russia to African countries at international forum.

“We have always strictly adhered to the ‘African solutions to African problems’ principle, standing in solidarity with Africans in their struggle for self-determination, justice, and their legitimate rights,” he added.

Using the same assurances that the US and EU had given to African nations, Russia will launch its charm drive.

“We stand for granting African countries their rightful place in the structures that determine the world’s fate, including the UN Security Council and the G20, as well as for reforming the global financial and trade institutions in a way that meets their interests,” Putin added.

Entrepreneurs, scholars, and public personalities from Russia and Africa will all participate at the meeting.

Putin sees it as a chance to increase trade between Russia and Africa.

“I would like to note with satisfaction that Russia’s trade turnover with African countries increased in 2022 and reached almost US$18 billion (about R321 billion). However, we are all well aware that the potential of our trade and economic partnership is much higher.

“Russian companies are interested in working more actively on the continent in the sphere of high technologies and geological exploration, in the fuel and energy complex, including nuclear power, in the chemical industry, mining and transport engineering, agriculture, and fisheries,” he said.

In the midst of Russia’s more than 500-day invasion of Ukraine, the forum will be place. In particular for African nations who have opted to “sit on the fence” as Russia invades Ukraine, at poses a geopolitical wrinkle.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa is one of the African leaders that travelled to Ukraine and Russia in June in an effort to broker a cease-fire agreement, therefore his country is directly involved.

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