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Ending Ukraine conflict also means ‘saving lives’ in Africa – AU chair Ending Ukraine conflict also means ‘saving lives’ in Africa – AU chair
(about 5 hours later)
Azali Assoumani has called on all parties to ensure the exports of grain and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia Azali Assoumani has called on all parties to free up exports of grain and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia
Finding a way to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict would mean saving “thousands” of people who rely on the exports of grain and other foodstuff from the Black Sea region, African Union chair Azali Assoumani said on Thursday.  Ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict would mean saving “thousands” of people who rely on grain and other produce exported from the Black Sea region, African Union chair Azali Assoumani said on Thursday. 
Speaking at the opening of the two-day Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg, Assoumani, who is also the president of the Comoros, called for a “peaceful coexistence” of Russia and Ukraine, urging to revive the 2022 grain-shipping deal.  Speaking at the opening of the two-day Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg, Assoumani, who is also the president of Comoros, called for “peaceful coexistence” between Russia and Ukraine, and urged for the 2022 grain-shipping deal to be revived. 
“I have no choice but to notice today that with the Russia-Ukraine crisis the future of this partnership will be under threat should the crisis persist. Therefore, we need to find a resolution to the crisis in order to try to save the thousands of people who depend on these imports,” Assoumani said, as cited by WION news network. “I have no choice but to notice today that with the Russia-Ukraine crisis the future of this partnership will be under threat should the crisis persist. Therefore, we need to find a resolution to the crisis in order to try to save the thousands of people who depend on these imports,” Assoumani said, as cited by WION news network. 
Africa’s economic food security will be particularly endangered since the continent is badly affected by the shock of food price increases provoked by the interruption to supplies. We appeal … to the stakeholders to find a middle ground to ensure the safe delivery of cereals and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia towards our continent. Africa’s economic food security will be particularly endangered since the continent is badly affected by the shock of food price increases provoked by the interruption to supplies. We appeal… to the stakeholders to find a middle ground to ensure the safe delivery of cereals and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia towards our continent.
Earlier this month, Moscow declined to extend the internationally brokered deal, which was struck in July 2022 to facilitate the resumption of grain exports from Ukrainian ports previously interrupted by the fighting. According to the Kremlin, the Western countries have failed to hold up their end of the bargain by not removing obstacles to the shipments of fertilizers and food from Russia. Although these exports are not directly subjected to Western sanctions, Moscow insists that wider restrictions placed on Russian banks, logistics, and insurance render the shipments untenable. Earlier this month, Moscow declined to extend the internationally brokered deal, which was struck in July 2022 to facilitate the resumption of grain exports from Ukrainian ports, previously interrupted by the fighting.
President Vladimir Putin said Russia would “immediately” return to full compliance with the grain agreement after its concerns would be addressed. Speaking in St. Petersburg on Thursday, the Russian leader promised that Moscow would deliver grain for free to some of Africa’s poorest countries. According to the Kremlin, Western countries have failed to hold up their end of the bargain by not removing obstacles to shipments of fertilizers and food from Russia. Although these exports do not directly fall under Western sanctions, Moscow insists that wider restrictions placed on Russian banks, logistics, and insurance render the shipments impossible.
President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is ready to “immediately” return to full compliance with the grain agreement if its concerns are addressed. Speaking in St. Petersburg on Thursday, the Russian leader pledged that Moscow will deliver grain for free to some of Africa’s poorest countries.