Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is "open to a constructive dialogue" and praised African countries' diplomatic approach to the war in Ukraine during a meeting he held with several leaders from the continent in St. Petersburg on Saturday.
“We salute the balanced approach of our African friends to the Ukrainian crisis. ... We are open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want peace based on the principles of justice and consideration of the legitimate interests of the parties," Putin said.
He maintained that “Russia is ready to consider any African proposals for conflict settlement in Ukraine,” but blamed Kyiv for refusing to negotiate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday after meeting with the African leaders that any peace talks with Russia are possible only after the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territories.
The Black Sea grain deal: Putin also claimed "the crisis on the global food market is not a consequence of conflict in Ukraine."
“Ukrainian grain supply to the world’s markets doesn’t solve the problem of world hunger,” he said.
After invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia initially blockaded vital grain exports from key Ukrainian Black Sea ports, including Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, which meant that millions of tons of Ukrainian grain were not exported to the many countries that rely on the country's production. Last summer, Turkey and the United Nations helped broker an agreement to enable the safe passage of ships from Ukraine in the Black Sea grain deal.
“Exports of Ukrainian grain under the deal ensuring its safe passage through the Black Sea are not helping to resolve Africa's problems with high global food prices, as only 3% have gone to the poorest countries,” Putin said.
Data from the United Nations shows that about 802,000 metric tons of cargo has gone to low-income countries, and three of those five countries are located in Africa. Other African countries receiving cargo are classified as lower-middle income.
“Countries in need should not suffer, so Moscow went to great lengths to ensure the supply of Ukrainian grain to African countries,” Putin said.
A June 15 update from the Office of the UN coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative said that, "In 2022, Ukraine supplied more than half of (the World Food Programme's) global wheat grain procurement, as was the case in 2021. The volume of food exported by the Initiative in May was the lowest since the start of the Initiative and well below shipping demand and Ukraine’s export capacity."
What African leaders said: On Saturday, the leaders offered to be a mediator in the Ukrainian war and encouraged “dialogue and compromise” as well as “de-escalation on both sides.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for "the war to be ended."
Ramaphosa also pushed for "opening up of the movement of the grains across the Black Sea so whatever blockages there are should be released."
On alleged deportation of Ukrainian children: Ramaphosa also called for “all children who have been caught up in this conflict to be returned to their homes.”
Putin told African leaders that “the Russian authorities absolutely legally took children out of the conflict zone in Ukraine and have never been against their reunification with their families.”
In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova for an alleged scheme to deport Ukrainian children to Russia.
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