President Vladimir Putin has said that he wants to see the African Union (AU) become a full member of the G20 club of nations, speaking at the start of an African leaders’ summit in St Petersburg.
“We hope that this decision will be made as early as September, during the G20 summit in New Delhi,” Mr Putin said.
“As before, Russia is ready to do everything possible to promote the strengthening of the sovereignty of African states, to help make Africa one of the key partners in the new system of a multipolar world order,” he added.
Addressing Russia’s decision to withdraw from a UN-brokered deal to allow safe passage for grain shipments from Ukraine’s southern ports, and eventually to Africa, Mr Putin said that Russia can plug the gap.
He added that Russia will be able to provide free grain to six African countries in the next few months.
Fewer African leaders are taking part in the summit than at the last such event, partly because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.