Following the second Russia-Africa Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with a number of African leaders in St. Petersburg. Sputnik Africa takes a look at the key statemnets made during the talks.
Meeting With South Africa's President Ramaphosa
At the meeting with South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Putin expressed confidence that the upcoming BRICS summit would be held at the highest level and vowed that Moscow would do everything possible to support South Africa, which is chairing the organization in 2023.
"We are working closely and constructively within the framework of this association to deepen the strategic partnership of the entire group of five. I am confident that the meeting you [the South African authorities] are preparing now will be held at the highest level. I have no doubt about this. We will do everything we can to help and support you," Putin said at a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Russian leader is planning to take part in the BRICS summit in August via video link.
BRICS unites the world's largest developing economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. A number of other countries intend to join the economic bloc, including Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and others. South Africa, which assumed the rotating BRICS presidency in January, will host the 15th BRICS summit from August 22-24.
Meeting With Burkinabe Leader Ibrahim Traore
The people of Burkina Faso support Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, the transitional president of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, said.
"Russia is now carrying out a special operation ... Be sure that our people support you. We support your government," Traore said during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin followin the conclusion of the second Russia-Africa summit that took place in St. Petersburg.
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the recent decision to open the Russian Embassy in Burkina Faso would give an impetus to the development of cooperation between the two nations.
"A decision has been made to resume the activities of the Russian Embassy, which had been closed back in 1992. I am confident that the work of the Russian Embassy will give an additional impetus to the development of our relations," Putin said told Traore.
The Russian leader also noted that his meeting with Traore would allow the two countries to align their positions on topical issues of bilateral cooperation and outline plans for further development.
In addition, President Putin noted that trade between Russia and Burkina Faso is still modest, adding that there were certain things to work on.
"Our trade is still modest, even by the Russian-African measuring, but I think we will talk about it today. There is something to work on," Putin said.
During the meeting, Putin also said that Moscow was ready to consider increasing the quota for students from Burkina Faso in Russia.
"In the 2023-2024 academic year, 10 state scholarships have been allocated for Burkina Faso. In case of interest, we will consider the possibility of increasing this quota, Mr. President," Putin told Traore.
Moreover, the Russian leader said Moscow would keep assisting Burkina Faso in training national personnel in civilian professions in Russia.
Putin also noted a good level of interaction between the two countries within the United Nations and other international organizations.
Meeting With President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo
President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo that the potential for trade cooperation between Russia and Guinea-Bissau is "great," adding that there are business prospects in particular in the energy and mining sectors.
"We have a great potential, it has not yet been fully revealed, let us talk about possible measures to improve trade indicators. We see prospects in such areas as geological exploration, mineral resources' development, infrastructure development, energy and agriculture," the Russian leader said.
Putin highlighted that Moscow and Bissau have a very close approach on various international issues, including the fight against terrorism and the formation of a multipolar world.
"The approaches of Russia and Guinea-Bissau to the formation of multipolar world order and international security, the fight against terrorism, compliance with international law, maintaining the central coordinating role of the United Nations — our positions on all these issues are very close to yours," Putin said.
Guinea-Bissau traditionally supports foreign policy initiatives that are important for Russia, Putin noted.
"We are grateful for the unwavering support of our candidacies for elected bodies of the UN system and other international organizations," the Russian president added.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, for his part, praised the USSR for helping in the anticolonial movement in Africa.
"We are not just friends, we are brothers," he stressed.
Meeting with Mali's Interim President Assimi Goita
Mali's interim president for a transitional period, Assimi Goita, thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for grain deliveries to his nation.
"I would like to sincerely thank you for the grain supplies to my country. This indicates the solidarity that your country has extended to our country as part of your decision to help Mali," Goita told Putin during a meeting.
In this regard, he also noted that Mali is one of the main recipients of Russian grain.
"Many countries in Africa, especially Mali, are suffering from unprecedented pressure on our country. However, we look forward to partnering with Russia. This is our sovereign choice," the Malian interim president said.
The Malian people fully and sincerely appreciate Russia's support at this "serious and difficult moment," Goita stated, adding that his country had finally seen who its "real friends are."
"I would like to commend the relationship of trust and partnership with your country that enabled Mali to gain sovereignty and preserve the integrity of our territory. Our defense and security forces can operate with complete freedom to defend our borders," he said.
In his turn, President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian government has allocated $2 million for the purchase of a new batch of food for Mali through the United Nations structures.
In March, Russia and Mali launched a joint project for lithium extraction in the Sikasso region, Putin said, adding that the 75% share in the project was acquired by Russian nuclear agency Rosatom’s subsidiary.
"Other promising areas include the development of mining, energy, infrastructure and agriculture industries. All this could be the subject of our joint work," the Russian president said.
Putin also noted that the two countries have a common approach to the international and regional issues.
"We very much hope that we will continue to stand in solidarity for the observance of international law and the preservation of the central role of the United Nations, as it is now," Putin said.
The Russian leader also announced the decision to increase the number of quotas for Malian students in Russia’s universities from 35 to 290.
In addition, Putin said at the meeting with Assimi Goita that the political dialogue between the two countries is intensive, but there is a decline in bilateral trade, although Russia's trade with many African countries is growing.
"We note the high intensity of political dialogue, our foreign ministers regularly communicate with each other ... For our part, we are aimed at intensifying trade and investment ties. Unfortunately, we are experiencing a certain decline [in trade], which was already small, although our trade is growing with many African countries," Putin said.
The Russian leader also said that Mali is one of Russia's key partners in the region and the authorities are interested in strengthening relations with the African country.
"We view Mali as one of the key partners in the region. And we share your interest in bringing relations to a new level of quality," Putin said.
On Thursday, Putin said that Russia would pay special attention to food supplies to Africa and was ready to supply Burkina Faso, Mali and Eritrea with 25-30,000 tonnes of grain free of charge. Putin also discussed the transfer of agricultural technologies to African countries.
Meeting With Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso
During the meeting with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, President Putin said that the Russia-Africa Summit went well and with good results.
"It seems to me that it [Russia-Africa Summit] was held at a very good level and with good results," Putin said.
Putin also thanked Sassou Nguesso for the decision to visit the Russian city of St. Petersburg.
The Russian president also revealed that a frank and useful discussion on the Ukrainian conflict had been held with African countries the day before.
"A little over a month ago, here in St. Petersburg, we discussed with the leaders and heads of multiple African delegations, including your representative, possible ways of resolving the situation around Ukraine. Yesterday we also had an opportunity to continue the exchange of views with your active participation, Mr. President. In my opinion, we had a very frank and useful discussion," Putin said.
Russia and the Republic of the Congo have a fruitful cooperation with each other at the United Nations and other international platforms, Putin noted.
"The Republic of the Congo supports most of the Russian draft resolutions, including those on combating the glorification of Nazism, on not being the first to deploy weapons in space, on information security and so on," he said.
The Russian leader added that he would be happy to see the Congolese president at the main naval parade that will take place on Sunday.
Putin added that trade between Russia and the Republic of the Congo increased by 85% in January-April this year.
For his part, Sassou Nguesso stressed that many tried to prevent the success of the Russia-Africa Summit and the delegation of the Republic of the Congo even encountered difficulties in renting an aircraft.
"Many people wanted this summit to fail. Even we faced huge difficulties while traveling here," he said.
The leader clarified that the plane rented by the delegation was insured in Dubai, because Western insurance companies did not agree that the plane would fly to St. Petersburg.
"We even had to re-hire a plane in Dubai. Other delegations also faced difficulties, in particular, with regard to the right to fly over some countries," the president of the republic concluded.