“We have not come here to ask for gifts” - President of South Africa to Putin

The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume the grain deal during a meeting focused on the war in Ukraine.

“We have not come here to ask for ‘gifts’. Of course, we understand that you, driven by generosity, have decided to donate grain to certain African countries facing particular difficulties, but that is not our primary purpose in coming here,” Ramaphosa stated.

The President of South Africa emphasized that African countries have proposed to Russia to re-engage in the grain deal and discussed the necessity of “opening the Black Sea” so that it is “accessible to global markets.”

Previously, Vladimir Putin announced at the plenary session of the Russia-Africa Forum that Russia is ready to supply several African countries with 25,000 to 50,000 tons of grain free of charge in the coming three to four months.