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Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said that while only 17 heads of state will attend the summit, 32 other African countries will be represented by senior government officials or ambassadors
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov deplored unconcealed brazen interference by the U.S., France, and other states through their diplomatic missions to prevent their active participation in the forum. Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said that while only 17 heads of state will attend the summit, 32 other African countries will be represented by senior government officials or ambassadors. The summit follows Russia’s withdrawal from a deal that allowed Black Sea exports, vital to many African countries, a move that drew strong condemnation around the world and raised new threats to global food security.
Russia shrugged off the criticism and doubled down by launching a barrage of missile attacks on Ukrainian ports and agriculture facilities. At the same time, Putin has repeatedly pledged that Russia would offer free grain to low-income African countries while the Black Sea deal has been terminated.
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Another issue likely to be on the agenda will be the fate of Russia’s Wagner military company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin following its brief rebellion against the Kremlin last month. Wagner’s future will be an urgent issue for countries like Sudan, Mali and others who contract with the mercenary group in exchange for natural resources like gold.
