Days after withdrawing from Black Sea Grain Deal, Russian president Vladimir Putin offered free grain to six poor African countries as he launched summit with the countries from the continent.
The two-day summit was held in St Petersburg and is viewed as a test of his support in Africa, where he retains support despite being cornered globally post his military intervention in Ukraine last year.
Last week, Russia refused to extend Black Sea Grain deal, wherein the country assured of not attacking the ships leaving Ukraine port with food grains, which had been reaching global markets including Africa.
In a keynote address at the summit, Putin promised to send grain to six African countries.
“In the coming months we will be able to ensure free supplies of 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of grains to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic and Eritrea,” Putin stated.
Over a year, the grain deal has allowed around 33 million tonnes of grain to leave Ukraine ports, which has helped keep the food prices stablised and avoid shortages.