Amidst Ukrainian Grain Deal Exit, Russia Reassures Africa of Continued Grain Supply

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Russia has insisted it understands the concerns African nations have following Moscow’s decision to leave the Ukrainian grain deal which ensures countries in need get deliveries.

In a move that is expected to alleviate widespread concerns, Russia has reassured African nations of the continued supply of grain. This assurance comes in the wake of Moscow’s decision to exit the Ukrainian grain deal. Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Vershinin, stated that the most needy nations would be compensated with approximately the same amount of grain they received last year under the Black Sea Initiative. This initiative had overseen the export of more than 900,000 tonnes of grain to African countries.

Moscow’s decision to abandon the Ukrainian grain deal has been attributed to repeated complaints that a linked agreement allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been fulfilled. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, stated that Russia may consider rejoining the deal if its demands were fully met, as the agreement had “lost all meaning”. The significance of this decision is underscored by the fact that the grain deal, facilitated by the UN and Turkey, allowed the export of over 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain over the past year.

The Deputy Foreign Minister understood the concerns of the African nations and reassured them that these concerns would be fully addressed to ensure they do not experience any negative consequences. A summit on grain supplies scheduled to be held in late July in Russia’s second city, Saint Petersburg, will likely serve as a platform for further discussions on the future of grain supply to African nations.

Despite the withdrawal from the Ukrainian grain deal, Russia remains committed to ensuring the continued supply of grain to African countries in need. The country is open to rejoining the deal if its demands are met, demonstrating the importance it places on maintaining its grain export relationships. The conversation surrounding the grain supply will continue, with the upcoming summit expected to provide more clarity on the way forward.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin, Russia understands Africa’s concerns and is now in communication with countries of the continent to make sure they do not feel the termination of the grain deal. He emphasized that the concerns of the African nations are valid and will be fully addressed. Efforts are being made so that the African countries do not experience any adverse consequences as a result of this decision.

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has reassured Egypt over Russian grain supplies at the start of a four-country tour of Africa, amid uncertainty over the future of a deal to resume Ukrainian exports via the Black Sea. Egypt, one of the world’s top wheat importers, bought 80% of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine last year, and Lavrov confirmed the commitment of Russian exporters of cereal products to meet their orders in full.

Russia’s decision to exit the Ukrainian grain deal has raised concerns among African nations about the continued supply of grain. However, Russia has reassured these nations that they will continue to receive approximately the same amount of grain as they did in the previous year. The upcoming summit in Saint Petersburg is expected to offer further clarity and reassurance on the future of grain supply to African nations.