Global Courant
ISTANBUL
Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country will continue to supply grain and fertilizer to Africa ahead of the second Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for this week.
“Despite (Western) sanctions, Russia will continue to work energetically to organize the supply of grain, food, fertilizer and more to Africa. “We highly appreciate and will continue to dynamically develop all economic ties with Africa, both individual states and regional integration associations, and of course the African Union,” Putin said in an article published by the Kremlin on Sunday.
He added that Russia welcomes the AU’s strategy of further economic integration and the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and that his country is ready to establish “pragmatic, mutually beneficial ties, including through the Eurasian Economic Union.”
Moscow on 27-28 July. Adding that they attach great importance to the Russia-Africa Summit to be held in St. Petersburg, Putin stated that a comprehensive declaration is planned to be adopted according to the results of the summit, and that many intergovernmental agreements and memoranda are prepared for signing.
He also cited the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which expired on July 17, claiming that the deal was used to “enrich the large American and European businesses that export and resell grain from Ukraine” in the West.
“Just judge for yourself: a total of 32.8 million tonnes of cargo was exported from Ukraine over almost a year as part of the ‘Deal’, of which more than 70% went to high and upper middle income countries, including the EU, while countries like Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia, and Yemen and Afghanistan accounted for less than 3% of the total volume – less than one million tonnes,” he said.
Reiterating that the conditions in the grain agreement regarding the withdrawal of the Russian Ziraat Bank from the sanctions on grain and fertilizer exports to world markets have not been fulfilled, “Even our donation of mineral fertilizers to the poorest countries is prevented.”
“Given all these facts, the continuation of the ‘grain deal’ that does not justify its humanitarian cause is meaningless. We have objected to further extension of the ‘agreement’ since July 18… I can assure you that our country can substitute Ukrainian grain both commercially and for free, especially since we expect a record harvest again this year,” he said.
Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain agreement on July 17, saying that the Russian part of the agreement was not implemented. Before returning to the deal, he sought the relaxation of banking restrictions and the ability to ship his manure.
The agreement between Turkey, the UN, Russia and Ukraine, which was first signed in Istanbul in July last year, aimed to resume grain exports from Ukrainian ports, which were stopped due to the Russia-Ukraine war that started in February 2022.
Turkey said Western countries should try to address Russia’s grievances and hoped Russia would return to the deal.
Only a part of the news presented to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS) and a summary are available on the Anadolu Agency website. Please contact us for subscription options.
