Russian President Vladimir Putin promised African countries on Monday that he would continue grain supplies despite sanctions against Moscow, in an op-ed published by the Kremlin on the eve of the Russia-Africa summit on Thursday and Friday.
“We fully understand the importance of stopping food supplies for the socio-economic development and political stability of African states,” the Russian head of state wrote in an article quoted by the Spanish news agency EFE, in which he added that for this reason Russia “always paid great attention to issues related to the supply of wheat, barley, corn and other crops to African countries.”
In the article, Putin points out: “And we did this not only alone, on a contractual basis, but also free of charge, in the form of humanitarian aid, including through the UN World Food Program.”
Last year, he recalled, Russia exported almost 11.5 million tons of grain to Africa, and in the first half of 2023 alone, it has already sent almost 10 million tons.
Regarding the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed the export of grain through Ukrainian ports across the Black Sea, Putin argues that this happened because “it only served to enrich the large North American and European companies that exported and resold grain from Ukraine”, stressing that “for almost a year, out of a total of 32.8 million tons of cargo, more than 70% was destined for countries with high and middle income levels, including the European Union, while countries like E fiopia, sudan and somalia, in addition to yemen and afghanistan received less than 3%.
In addition, Putin stressed that none of Russia’s demands for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Russian exports of grains and fertilizers to world markets had been met, but nevertheless assured: “Despite the sanctions, Russia will continue to make vigorous efforts to send grains, food, fertilizers and other raw materials to Africa.”
In the article, the President of Russia also informs that an action plan for the Russia-Africa Association Forum is to be approved in St. Petersburg until 2026 and that a number of bilateral documents will be signed.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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