MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday said that Moscow sent 25,000 tons of wheat to Mali in fourth shipment.
She said in total Russia given 50,000 tons of wheat and 22,000 tons of fertilizers to Mali.
The Russian diplomat told a news conference in Moscow that Russia intends to continue to contribute to the overcoming of acute socio-economic problems by African states, including through the provision of necessary humanitarian aid.
💬 #Zakharova: On January 9, the Republic of #Mali received 25,000 tonnes of Russian grain as humanitarian aid.
🤝 This was the fourth shipment of Russian goods that the people in Mali need so much and are receiving for free.#RussiaAfrica #RussiaHelps pic.twitter.com/zshRGyc4jm
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) January 17, 2024
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that last year, Russia harvested a record crop of 156 million tons of grain, and this year the crop is expected to be more modest.
Russia had refused to extend a Black Sea Grain Initiative in July and stated that contrary to the program’s aims, most of the food exports go to rich, developed nations instead of poor ones. It further said that the Russian part of the agreement had not been implemented.
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Russia’s Agriculture Minister, Dmitry Patrushev, said the decision was primarily of a political nature. However, he assured that Russia will continue its grain exports, maintaining existing trade relationships.
In July, Russia formally withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal, which had previously facilitated Ukraine’s secure export of grain from its Black Sea ports.
