Russian President Vladimir Putin told African leaders today, Friday, that "Moscow respects their peace proposal concerning Ukraine and is studying it carefully," emphasizing that Russia is ready to negotiate with Ukraine, but Kyiv refuses to participate. At the Russia-Africa summit, Putin stated: "Russia will increase food supplies to Africa, including some free grain shipments announced yesterday," adding that his country is interested in developing military cooperation with the continent.
Russia has repeatedly mentioned that any talks must take into account those "new realities." The Russian news agency TASS quoted the Foreign Ministry stating that "90 percent of the issues related to African countries' debts to Russia have been settled." Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso called for an end to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, stating that "the peace plan proposed by African leaders deserves attention."
Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra mentioned that his country's relations with Russia have helped it save its democracy and avoid civil war. Malian President Assimi Goïta thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for providing support in combating "terrorism," expressing gratitude to Russia for its proposals to supply Africa with grain. Senegalese President Macky Sall urged for "de-escalation to help promote calm."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi urged Russia to revive the grain export agreement through the Black Sea from which Moscow withdrew last week. He noted that "it is crucial to reach an agreement to revive the grain initiative, which Russia withdrew from, citing Ukraine and the West's failure to meet their commitments."
African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat told Putin and African leaders in St. Petersburg that "this war must be ended. It can only end based on justice and logic." He added, "The disruptions in energy and grain supplies must be terminated immediately. The grain agreement must be extended for the benefit of all the peoples of the world, especially Africans."
African leaders began arriving in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to attend the "Russia-Africa" forum summit. Russia has consistently stated that it is ready for talks, but these discussions must consider the "new realities" on the ground. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the principle of a ceasefire at this time, leaving Russia in control of about one-fifth of his country's territory and granting its forces time to regroup after 17 months of fierce war.
Since withdrawing from the agreement, Russia has bombed Ukrainian ports and grain warehouses, leading Ukraine and the West to accuse Russia of using food as a weapon in the war, causing global grain prices to rise again. Putin promised yesterday to provide free Russian grain in the coming months to six of the countries participating in the summit.
Putin aims to leverage the event to solidify his country's relations with Africa and rally the continent's support against what he describes as American hegemony and new colonialism by the West. Many African leaders made friendly remarks about Moscow's record in supporting their countries in their liberation struggles in the twentieth century and more recently.
