Putin will meet with African leaders to discuss the Russia-Ukraine grain deal.
On Saturday, June 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold a meeting with African leaders in St. Petersburg, as announced by presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. During this gathering, one of the key topics for discussion will be the grain deal.
Ukraine, being a significant exporter of agricultural products such as sunflower, maize, wheat, and barley, faced challenges when Russia invaded in February 2022. The naval blockade by Russian vessels trapped approximately 20 million tonnes of grain in Ukrainian ports.
To address this issue, a grain deal was brokered with the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations, allowing Ukraine to export its grain across the Black Sea. This agreement has paved the way for more than 30 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs to be safely shipped through a designated corridor.
While Russia had previously expressed discontent with the deal, citing Western sanctions affecting its agricultural exports, Putin announced his intention to meet with African leaders on Wednesday, June 14. The leaders from Africa are keenly interested in ensuring a consistent supply of grain to their continent, which has been challenging under the existing Istanbul deal.
Putin emphasized that Russia will carefully evaluate whether to extend the agreement, as they have reservations regarding its terms. Before meeting with Putin, the African leaders are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, as previously announced by the non-profit organization Brazzaville Foundation.
Among the leaders expected to participate in the meeting with Putin are Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa; Azali Assoumani, Chair of the African Union and Union of Comoros; Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo; Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda; Macky Sall, President of Senegal; and Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia.
This gathering holds great significance as it presents an opportunity for discussions on the grain deal and exploring avenues for enhanced cooperation between Russia and African nations.