MOSCOW
\nExports of Ukrainian grain under a deal ensuring its safe passage through the Black Sea are not helping to resolve Africa\u2019s problems with high global food prices as only three per cent have gone to the poorest countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin told African leaders on Saturday.
\nThe leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, Congo Republic and the Comoro islands met the Russian leader at the government\u2019s 18th-century Konstantinovsky Palace in the hope of mediating in the conflict with Ukraine, after visiting Kyiv on Friday.
\nPutin said the food crisis had been caused by the actions of Western countries, not by what Russia calls a \u201cspecial military operation\u201d in Ukraine.
\nDuring talks with Mr Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told his Russian counterpart that the conflict in Ukraine had to stop.
\nDuring talks with the Russian leader, South African President Ramaphosa says the Ukraine conflict has to end
\n\u201cThis war has to have an end… It must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means,\u201d said Ramaphosa.
\nHe added that his delegation \u201ccame with a very clear message: that this war has to be ended\u201d.
\n\u201cThis war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed on many other countries around the world,\u201d Ramaphosa said ahead of formal talks with the Russian president.
\nOn Friday, the delegation held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
\n\u201cWe have come to listen to you and through you to hear the voice of the Russian people,\u201d said Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently heads the African Union.
\n\u201cWe wanted to encourage you to enter into negotiations with Ukraine,\u201d he said.
\nAfrican countries have been divided over their response to the conflict, with some siding with Ukraine, while others have remained neutral or gravitated towards Moscow.
\n\u2018Balanced approach\u2019
\nPresident Putin praised the African countries for their stance during the Ukraine conflict, saying \u201cwe welcome the balanced approach of African friends to the Ukraine crisis\u201d.
\nThe high-level diplomatic team, which went to Kyiv on Friday, hopes to bring to the table the voice of a continent that has badly suffered from the repercussions of the Ukraine conflict, including by rising grain prices.
\n\u201cWe are open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want to implement peace based on the principles of justice and respect for the parties\u2019 legitimate interests,\u201d Mr Putin said.
\nThe delegation, which arrived in Russia on Saturday a day after talks in Ukraine, includes four presidents: South Africa\u2019s Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegal\u2019s Macky Sall, Zambia\u2019s Hakainde Hichilema and Azali Assoumani of Comoros, who heads the African Union.
\nThe leaders of Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville pulled out of the visit at the last moment and sent representatives instead.
\n\u201cIn Russia, we highly respect the position of African countries in support of global stability… and support their desire for a pacifist policy,\u201d Putin said.
\nSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa laid out the 10 points of the African initiative, after Comoros President Azali Assoumani, current chairman of the African Union, told Putin: \u201cWe\u2019ve come here to listen to you, and through you the Russian people, and encourage you to enter negotiations with Ukraine in order to put an end to the difficult ordeal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MOSCOW Exports of Ukrainian grain under a deal ensuring its safe passage through the Black Sea are not helping to resolve Africa\u2019s problems with high global food prices as only three per cent have gone to the poorest countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin told African leaders on Saturday. The leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Egypt, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":338556,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-338544","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n