Russia will replace exports of Ukrainian grain to Africa, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, after Moscow exited a deal allowing their safe shipment.
“Russia will continue its energetic efforts to provide supplies of grain, food products, fertilizers and other goods to Africa,” Putin said in a statement published on the Kremlin’s website.
“I want to give assurances that our country is capable of replacing the Ukrainian grain both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis.”
Moscow’s military operation blocked Ukraine’s Black Sea ports with warships until a deal brokered by the UN and Turkey and signed in July 2022 allowed for the passage of critical grain shipments.
Earlier this month Russia exited the deal after complaining that a related agreement on allowing the export of Russian food and fertilizers had not been honored.
Moscow later said it would consider cargo ships traveling to Ukraine through the Black Sea potential military targets.
The African Union has expressed “regret” over Moscow’s decision to end the grain export deal.
Later this week Russia will host the second Russia-Africa Summit and Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, according to the Kremlin.
Humanitarian groups say Africa is heavily reliant on grain from Russia and Ukraine.
The grain deal had enabled the export of more than 32 million tons of Ukrainian grain over the last year.
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Comments (4)
Is this an action showing the colonial nature of Russia? What we see also in Chechnya in Russia?
lol the buthurt Ukranians.. Don't worry. You're "winning" the counteroffensive, it'll all be over soon.
How nice of communist russia to give free of charge, our grain to Africa.
communist russia is no friend to Africa.
In 1889 russia laid claims to the village of Sagallo in present-day Djibouti.
By the beginning of the 20th Century around 25, 000 russian settlers had established themselves in South Africa. Yes, settlers who stole black land AND displaced black South Africans! The russians were amongst the strongest supporters of the Boer Republics in the Boer War. The largest international solidarity groups raising money, material aid, medical support detachments and fighters for the Boer army were in russia and Holland and these included the royal families. The russians were totally infatuated with the Boers and admired their way of life. russian immigrants joined special detachments of russian fighters to aid the Boer War effort.
Russia, with Turkish complicity, will simply steal Ukrainian grain, and use it to buy friends for Russia in Africa.