Putin promises African leaders free grain despite 'hypocritical' Western sanctions
By Andrew Osborn
July 28, 202312:53 AM GMT+9Updated 8 hours ago
Summary
Putin gives speech at two-day Russia-Africa summit
Says free Russian grain will reach Africa within months
Touts Moscow as reliable food supplier and partner
Accuses West of hypocrisy over food security
U.N. chief talks of 'a handful of donations'
MOSCOW, July 27 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told African leaders he would gift them tens of thousands of tons of grain despite Western sanctions, which he said made it harder for Moscow to export its grain and fertilisers.
Speaking at a Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg, Putin said Russia was ready to replace Ukrainian grain exports to Africa on both a commercial and aid basis to fulfil what he said was Moscow's critical role in global food security.
"We will be ready to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic and Eritrea with 25-50,000 tonnes of free grain each in the next three to four months," Putin told the summit, whose participants applauded.
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A banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a protest to support the Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traore and to demand the departure of France's ambassador and military forces, in Ouagadougou, on Jan. 20, 2023. Russia has been trying to expand its influence throughout Africa in recent years.
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