Russian President Vladimir Putin says his nation will proceed to work on supplying grain and fertilizers to Africa forward of the second Russia-Africa Summit scheduled to happen later this week.
“Despite the (Western) sanctions, Russia will continue to work energetically on organizing the supply of grain, food, fertilizers and more to Africa. We highly appreciate and will continue to dynamically develop the entire range of economic ties with Africa-both with individual states and with regional integration associations, and, of course, with the African Union,” Putin mentioned in an article launched by the Kremlin in a single day Sunday.
He mentioned that Russia welcomed the AU’s technique of additional financial integration, and the formation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), including that his nation is able to set up “pragmatic, mutually beneficial ties, including through the Eurasian Economic Union.”
Putin added that Moscow locations nice significance on the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg on July 27-28, stating {that a} complete declaration is deliberate to be adopted based mostly on the summit’s outcomes, whereas quite a few intergovernmental agreements and memorandums are being ready for signing.
He additionally touched on the the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which expired on July 17, alleging that the deal was used within the West to “enrich large American and European businesses that exported and resold grain from Ukraine.”
“Judge for yourself: for almost a year, as part of the ‘deal,’ a total of 32.8 million tons of cargo was exported from Ukraine, of which more than 70% went to countries with high- and upper middle-income levels, including the EU, while countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia, as well as Yemen and Afghanistan, accounted for less than 3% of the total volume-less than one million tons,” he mentioned.
He reiterated that the circumstances within the grain deal in regards to the Russian Agricultural Bank’s withdrawal from sanctions to export grain and fertilizers to world markets weren’t fulfilled, including: “Even our donation of mineral fertilizers to needy, poorest countries is hindered.”
“Given all these facts, the continuation of the ‘grain deal’ that did not justify its humanitarian purpose has lost its meaning. We objected to the further extension of the ‘deal’ since July 18… I want to assure you that our country is able to replace Ukrainian grain both commercially and free of charge, especially since we again expect a record harvest this year,” he added.
Russia suspended its participation within the Black Sea grain deal on July 17, saying the Russian a part of the settlement was not carried out. It had sought the loosening of banking restrictions and the flexibility to ship its fertilizer earlier than returning to the settlement.
The settlement, initially signed in July of final 12 months in Istanbul by Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine, was aimed toward resuming grain exports from Ukrainian ports halted because of the Russia-Ukraine battle, which started in February 2022.
Türkiye has mentioned Western nations ought to attempt to deal with Russia’s complaints, and that it hopes Russia returns to the deal.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
