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Putin promises to deliver cereals to Africa if the agreement on Ukrainian exports is not renewed

2023-03-20T13:38:37.873Z


The Russian president pledged on Monday to give priority to cooperation with African states, during a speech at the Russia-Africa international parliamentary conference in Moscow.


Vladimir Putin said on Monday that he gave "

priority

" to relations with African countries, Moscow being in search of new partners to face international sanctions because of the conflict in Ukraine.

"

I want to stress that our country has always given and will continue to give priority to cooperation with African states

," Putin said in Moscow during a speech to African representatives.

"

Our country is determined to continue building a full strategic partnership with our African friends, and we are ready to shape the global agenda together

," the Russian president continued.

Putin felt that Russia, like Africa, "

upholds traditional moral values

" by "

resisting neocolonial ideology imposed from abroad

".

grain delivery

Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to deliver cereals to Africa if the agreement on Ukrainian exports is not renewed in two months, following the extension announced on Saturday by his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

If we ultimately decide not to extend this agreement in 60 days, then we are ready to deliver from Russia free of charge all the volume that was destined lately for the most needy countries in Africa,” he said

. he said during a speech in Moscow to African officials.

According to him, Russia "

conscientiously fulfills all its obligations, both in the supply of food, fertilizers, fuel and other critical products for the states of the continent, thus contributing to ensuring their food and energy security

".

He once again reiterated his criticism of the Europeans, accusing them of monopolizing the grain leaving Ukrainian ports.

"

Only 3 million tons of cereals were sent to Africa and 1.3 million to the poorest countries in Africa

", he said, against "

12 million tons sent from Russia

" to the continent.

The Russian president affirmed, in his speech, that Moscow will "

decide on its future participation

" in the grain agreement, which was extended on Saturday until May 18, only if "

a fair and complete implementation

" of it it is "

insured

".

Earlier on Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry had conditioned Moscow's continuation of the agreement, in particular on "

the reconnection

" of the Rosselkhozbank bank to the Swift international payment system, "

the abolition of restrictions on insurance and reinsurance

» of ships, or even «

the release of foreign assets and the accounts of Russian companies associated with the production and transport of foodstuffs and fertilizers

".

"

Without progress in meeting these requirements (...) our participation in (the agreement) will be suspended

", warned the Russian ministry.

As it stands, "

the agreement continues to operate for the next two months within the existing parameters, without any change in the ports concerned

", he finally specified in this press release.

Increase cooperation

According to Putin, Russia plans to increase cooperation with African countries in the field of energy, medicine and to double the quotas of African students in Russian universities.

Against the backdrop of Western sanctions linked to its offensive in Ukraine, Moscow is currently seeking support in Asia and Africa, where many states have not openly condemned the Russian military intervention.

Russia had already multiplied initiatives on the African continent in recent years, aimed at posing as an alternative to the former colonial powers.

It has signed many economic and military partnerships there and the Russian paramilitary group Wagner has established itself in several countries, particularly in the Central African Republic, where it has helped to erode French influence.

Next Russia-Africa summit in July

The next Russia-Africa summit, the second of its kind, is to be held July 26-29 in St. Petersburg.

Putin assured Monday to prepare "

very seriously

" this meeting and invited African leaders and regional organizations to take part.

At the first summit of its kind, in 2019, Vladimir Putin was pleased to have "

opened a new page

" of relations with Africa, a continent from which Russia had largely withdrawn after the fall of the USSR.

This meeting saw the presence of representatives of 54 African countries, including 43 heads of state.

The joint declaration adopted at its conclusion denounced in particular the “

political dictates and monetary blackmail

”.

Source: lefigaro

All business articles on 2023-03-20

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