Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will not rejoin a U.N.-brokered pact to prevent famines in the developing world due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The decision was disclosed during the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg. Putin emphasized his government’s refusal to extend the Black Sea grain deal, which allowed 32.9 million tons of agricultural products to be shipped from Ukraine’s blockaded ports to the global market.
Putin accused Western nations of receiving most of the deliveries while maintaining sanctions on Russia, prompting Moscow to pursue “a more just system of resource distribution.” Instead of rejoining the pact, Russia plans to provide up to 50,000 tons of grain each to countries like Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea in the next few months, with free shipping arrangements.
However, investigations revealed that Russia systematically appropriated Ukrainian grain during its occupation of the southern region. After withdrawing from the deal, Russian forces targeted agricultural stores, resulting in the destruction of an estimated 60,000 tons of grain, according to Kyiv.
The African Union, representing 55 member countries, urged Russia to reinstate the Black Sea grain deal to ensure a stable global market for Ukrainian and Russian agricultural products despite challenges posed by the ongoing war affecting Black Sea shipping routes.
The decision to pull out of the agreement could leave African nations dependent on individual deals with Russia for supplies, leading to price fluctuations and supply insecurity.
The summit, aimed at strengthening ties between Russia and the Global South, has been overshadowed by strict security measures and COVID-19 testing requirements. The Kremlin expressed disappointment as only 17 out of more than 50 African countries confirmed their attendance, attributing it to pressure from the U.S. and EU countries.
The situation remains complex, with implications for both regional stability and global food security.
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