Putin Says Russia Can Replace Ukraine Grain To Africa

President Putin says Russia is capable of replacing exports of grain to Africa from Ukraine after he withdrew from a deal allowing their safe shipment across the black sea.

A kremlin statement said Russia could provide the grain on a commercial and free-of charge basis.

In the year up to June 2022, Russia was one of the largest suppliers of wheat to Africa exporting 10.8 million tones.

In the same period, Ukraine  exported 6.3 million tones to the continent.

Mr. Putin said Russia expected a record harvest this year. The country will host the second Russia – Africa summit later this week.

Earlier in July Russia exited the deal after complaining that a related agreement on allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured.

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Moscow later said it would consider cargo ships travelling to Ukraine through the Black Sea potential military targets.

The African Union has expressed “regret” over Moscow’s decision to end the grain export deal.

Later this week Russia will host the second Russia-Africa Summit and Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, according to the Kremlin.

Humanitarian groups say Africa is heavily reliant on grain from Russia and Ukraine.

The grain deal had enabled the export of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain over the last year.