African Leaders Left Disappointed as Putin Fails to Deliver on Grain Deal and Ukraine Resolution
African leaders met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit, seeking to resume a grain deal and end the conflict in Ukraine. However, few outcomes were achieved, leaving leaders disappointed. Putin promised to share revenue from increased grain prices with poorer nations, but specifics were unclear. He also pledged to ship a small amount of grain to six African nations, but this fell short of the previous deal. Putin attributed the low attendance to Western pressure. Egypt and South Africa advocated for the grain deal and trade with Russia, while African leaders called for peace in Ukraine. However, Putin questioned a ceasefire, claiming Russia cannot pause fire when attacked. The summit also highlighted Russia's role as the top arms supplier to Africa, but leaders emphasized the need for concrete results and improved trade balances. Increased cooperation on peace, security, and counterterrorism efforts was also called for. Overall, African leaders desired more substantial outcomes and action rather than declarations of intent. Putin dismissed his absence from the upcoming BRICS economic summit in South Africa as less important.
African leaders have concluded a two-day summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but with few tangible outcomes. The leaders had hoped to secure a resumption of a grain deal that previously allowed for the supply of grain from Ukraine, as well as find a path towards ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Putin acknowledged that the termination of the grain deal had caused a rise in grain prices benefiting Russian companies, but promised to share some of the revenues with the poorest nations, without providing specific details.
Furthermore, Putin pledged to ship 25,000 to 50,000 tons of grain for free to six African nations, but this amount pales in comparison to the 725,000 tons shipped by the UN World Food Program under the previous grain deal.
The African leaders' requests were largely met with disappointment, and fewer than 20 out of the continent's 54 heads of state or government attended the summit. Putin attributed the low attendance to "outrageous Western pressure." Egypt and South Africa were the most vocal about the need to resume the grain deal and expressed their desire for greater trade partnerships with Russia.
African leaders also called for peace in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of justice and reason in resolving the conflict. However, Putin questioned the calls for a ceasefire, stating that Russia cannot pause fire while it is being attacked
. The next significant peace summit on Ukraine is scheduled to be hosted by Saudi Arabia, without Russia's participation. African nations make up the largest voting bloc at the United Nations and have been divided on resolutions criticizing Russia's actions in Ukraine.
The summit also highlighted Russia's role as the top arms supplier to the African continent. However, African leaders stressed the need for concrete results and improved trade balances, as previous promises to double trade with Russia have yet to be fulfilled.
Additionally, there was a call for increased cooperation on peace, security, and counterterrorism efforts. Overall, the summit left African leaders hoping for more substantial outcomes and expressing the need for more action rather than just declarations of intent. Putin downplayed his absence from the upcoming BRICS economic summit in South Africa, citing his presence in Russia as more important.
