Development Minister Svenja Schulze has warned African countries against closer cooperation with Russia and its President Vladimir Putin.
“Anyone who promises cheap Russian wheat to African countries and at the same time bombs Ukrainian grain ports does not want to fight hunger, but only create new dependencies,” the SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group before the start of a so-called Africa summit in St. Petersburg today.
Russia only behaves anti-colonial in rhetoric, “in fact its actions in Africa are aimed at dependence and exploitation”. Schulze called the meeting in St. Petersburg “Putin’s PR show.”
Meet also chance for African partners
At its second Africa summit, Russia wants to expand cooperation with the countries of the continent. Russian shipments of grain and fertilizer to African countries are also in the spotlight, after Moscow canceled the agreement allowing Ukrainian grain to be shipped across the Black Sea.
Because of the naval blockade in its war against Ukraine, Russia is accused of withdrawing large quantities of wheat and corn from the world market and thus driving up food prices. Grain from Ukraine, like that from Russia, is considered an important contribution to the fight against hunger in the world.
Schulze told the Funke newspapers that Russia exports “weapons, fake news and mercenaries, often with fatal consequences. Russia has little to offer African countries in terms of development policy.” But the meeting with Putin is also “an opportunity for our African partners to confront the Russian president with their demands. An end to the war and unhindered exports of Ukrainian grain are in the interests of the whole world.”
