In an unexpected turn of events, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that his country is set to discontinue exporting Ukrainian grains to Africa, following their withdrawal from a deal that ensured secure shipment of these goods.
In a statement published on the Kremlin’s website, Putin asserted, “Russia will persevere in its proactive endeavors to supply grain, food products, fertilizers, and other commodities to Africa,” as reported by Alarabiya News.
Confident in Russia’s capabilities, the President reassured, “I want to assure everyone that our nation is fully capable of stepping in to replace Ukrainian grain, be it on commercial terms or on a free-of-charge basis.”
This decision came in the aftermath of Russia’s military intervention, which had led to the blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports using warships.
However, a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022 managed to pave the way for crucial grain shipments.
Unfortunately, the recent exit from the deal was prompted by Russia’s grievances over a related agreement, which concerned the export of Russian food and fertilizers.
As a result, Moscow chose to terminate the agreement.
As tensions escalated, Moscow even went so far as to consider cargo ships voyaging to Ukraine through the Black Sea as potential military targets.
The African Union expressed deep “regret” over Russia’s decision to terminate the grain export deal, as this move could have significant implications for food security in the region.
In the coming days, Russia will host the second Russia-Africa Summit and Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, according to the Kremlin.
This meeting will likely be closely watched, given the recent developments in grain exports and their potential impact on the African continent.
