Russia is ready in the coming months to put from 25 thousand to 50 thousand tons of grain in a number of African countries, said Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a plenary meeting of the economic and humanitarian forum “Russia-Africa”.
“We will be ready in the coming months, the next 3-4 months to provide Burkina-Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, Eritrem of 25-50 thousand tons of grain,” he said.
“We will provide the free delivery of these products to consumers,” Putin added.
The Russian leader also commented on the termination of the Black Sea Grain initiative. According to him, the grain transaction contained obligations to remove “illegitimate obstacles” for the supply of Russian grain and fertilizers to world markets.
“Russia went to participate in this so -called transaction, including taking into account the obligations contained in it that illegitimate obstacles to the supply of our grain and fertilizers to the world’s deliveries will be removed. In fact, nothing happened from the fact that We also discussed what was promised to us, ”he said.
Putin emphasized that “not one of the conditions of the transaction concerning the withdrawal of grain and fertilizers to world markets from the sanctions of Russian exports was performed.”
According to Putin, it is Russia “that makes a significant contribution to global food security.” The share of the Russian Federation in the global wheat market is 20 percent, while Ukraine is less than 5 percent, he said.
“So, it is Russia that makes a significant contribution to global food security and is a solid, responsible international supplier of agricultural products,” he said.
Putin noted that those who claim that this is not so, simply perverts the facts.
The President of the Russian Federation said that the Western countries have obstacles to the supply of Russian grain and fertilizers, “while hypocritically they accuse Russia of a crisis in the global food market.”
“The paradoxical picture is formed: on the one hand, the countries of the West are obstructed by the supply of our grain and fertilizers, and on the other, I will say directly, hypocritically accuse us of the current crisis situation in the global food market,” said the President of the Russian Federation.
Putin also noted that Russia is interested in the further development and deepening of trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation with all African countries.
According to him, the Russian-African turnover at the end of 2022 reached $ 18 billion.
The Russian leader said that the North – South transport corridor will allow us to establish convenient deliveries of goods to Africa and vice versa.