Putin wants to bribe African leaders after grain deal breakdown
The Russia-Africa summit took place in St. Petersburg, Russia today, during which Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to offer African leaders attending the event agricultural products while Russian missiles are flying at Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea and blocking the grain deal.
According to Russian media, Putin announced that his country is ready to supply 20,000 to 50,000 tonnes of grain to African countries free of charge to close the gap caused by the breakdown of the grain deal.
– We are ready to provide Burkina Faso, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic, and Eritrea with 25-50 thousand tonnes of grain free of charge in the next three to four months. We will also provide free delivery to consumers,” the Russian dictator said.
The Kremlin leader added that Russian suppliers are ready to replace Ukrainian agricultural products on a commercial basis as well.
It is noteworthy that despite Russia’s cynical missile attacks on Ukrainian ports where grain was exported, Putin blamed Western countries instead of himself and Russia for the disruption of the grain deal, which, according to the aggressor state’s president, allegedly hindered the supply of grain and fertilisers.
In addition to grain, according to Reuters, Russia has also written off Somalia’s debt of more than $684 million as part of a deal made on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit.
– “This step plays a major role in completing the cancellation of the country’s debt,” Somali Finance Minister Bihi Egeh said of the agreement with Moscow in a post on the ministry’s Facebook page.
The agreement signed on Wednesday between Egeh and Russian Deputy Finance Minister Timur Maksimov concerns Paris Club loans.
As reported by the White House the day before, the United States and allies are working with official Kyiv to find alternative routes for the delivery of critical grain after Russia broke the grain deal.
