African leaders have urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to move forward with their peace plan to end the Ukraine war and renew the export deal for Ukrainian grain that Moscow recently terminated. While the African countries did not directly criticize Russia, their interventions during a summit with Putin were more forceful than previous statements, highlighting the depth of African concern about the consequences of the war and rising food prices. The African Union Commission Chairman emphasized the urgency of ending the war and reiterating the need for immediate resolution to disruptions in energy and grain supplies.
In June, a peace plan was floated by the African Union, suggesting several steps to deescalate the conflict, including a Russian troop withdrawal, the removal of Russian tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, and sanctions relief. Putin expressed his gratitude to the African leaders for their attention to the issue and stressed that Russia was carefully studying the proposal.
African leaders called for a restoration of peace in Europe and emphasized the need for negotiation and constructive engagement to resolve the conflict. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt also urged Russia to revive the Black Sea grain deal, which allowed Ukraine to export grain through its seaports despite the ongoing conflict. Putin, in response, attributed rising food prices to long-standing Western policy mistakes, asserting that Russia withdrew from the agreement because it was not meeting the needs of the poorest countries. Since leaving the deal, Russia has engaged in military actions in Ukrainian ports and grain depots.
During the summit, Putin promised to deliver free Russian grain in the coming months to six countries attending the event. The Russian president aims to use the summit to strengthen Russia’s ties with Africa and gain the continent’s support in countering what he perceives as U.S. hegemony and Western neo-colonialism. African leaders expressed gratitude for Russia’s support in their respective countries’ liberation struggles and noted the positive impact of their relations with Russia. The leaders of Mali and the Central African Republic gave thanks to Putin for his pragmatic and realistic efforts to reach an agreement with Ukraine.
