Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country will continue to export grain, including some free shipments, to Africa despite sanctions. While discussing the halted Black Sea grain deal at the Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg, he promised large no-cost shipments of grain to six African countries. He referred to the difficulties of maintaining the supply with what he called "illegal sanctions" which "seriously impede the supply of Russian food, complicate transportation, logistics, insurance and bank payments." Delegates from many African nations called for an effective deal on grain shipments. Putin said that Russia made the decision to withdraw from the deal because "none of the terms of the deal, concerning the withdrawal of Russian exports of grain and fertilisers to world markets from sanctions, was fulfilled."

Source: Ethiopian News July 28, 2023 06:02 UTC