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Added on the 27/07/2023 13:57:47 - Copyright : AFP EN
Russian President Vladimir Putin told leaders and officials from most African countries Thursday that his nation is making every effort to avert a global food crisis despite concerns that its withdrawal from a deal allowing grain shipments from Ukraine will cause price spikes.
As Russia hosts a summit of African leaders in St Petersburg, there is likely a great deal of anger on the continent over Moscow's withdrawal from the Ukraine grain deal, placing Vladimir Putin on the defensive as he scrambles to sure up support from African partners, says France 24's foreign affairs commentator Douglas Herbet.
All the latest development from the war in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin says he is "ready to promote" a return to the Black Sea grain deal initiative provided Russia's demands are met, which would primarily involve removing sanctions on Russian exports and agricultural technology. However, both Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan insist they will go ahead with plans to implement a separate initiative to directly deliver tens of thousands of tons of grain to six African countries. The comments come at a press conference following bilateral Russo-Turkish talks aimed at reviving the Black Sea grain deal.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that a landmark deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain safely through the Black Sea amid the war won’t be restored until the West meets Moscow's demands on its own agricultural exports. Putin's remarks dashed hopes that his talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could revive the agreement, seen as vital for global food supplies, especially in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. As Africa continues to suffer the brunt of the collapse of the UN-backed grain export accord, "Putin is doing fine with or without the grain deal," former US diplomat Matthew Bryza tells FRANCE 24's François Picard. "Last year, Russia set a record for the most grain exports in its history. Russia is getting its grain out." Ambassador Bryza is all but certain that Putin is using the grain deal "as a political tool to weaken Ukraine & create a wedge" among Ukraine's Western allies actively enforcing sanctions against Russia. The former US diplomat is currently Board Member of the Jamestown Foundation think tank and Managing Partner at Ballard Partners.
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