Ukraine war and grain deal exit loom over forum that could be ‘make or break for Putin’ in courting Africa
Moscow’s war in Ukraine and its exit from a UN-brokered grain deal will loom over this week’s Russia-Africa summit, as Vladimir Putin tries to woo African leaders seeking economic relief amid signs the Kremlin may be ready to seriously address peace talks with Kyiv.
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that just 17 African heads of state would be attending. This is far fewer than at its 2019 conference or at similar summits held elsewhere, including a meeting in December with Joe Biden that dozens of African leaders flew to Washington DC to attend.
