Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mali Interim President Assimi Goita in a telephone conversation noted the importance of the initiative to transfer fertilizers from Russia to countries in need, the press service of the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
"The importance of Russia's initiative to donate about 300,000 tons of fertilizers blocked in European ports due to illegitimate sanctions restrictions was noted," the statement said.
In addition, Putin and Goita discussed topical issues of further development of bilateral relations, including in the trade and economic sphere, the Kremlin added.
The conversation took place at the initiative of the Malian side.
Speaking at the SCO summit in September, Putin said that 300 thousand tons of Russian fertilizers were in the seaports of the European Union and that Moscow was ready to transfer them to the developing countries for free. Later, the president called it the height of cynicism when the EU didn't give an answer to such a proposition.
Fighting terrorists
The two sides confirmed their mutual commitment to strengthening security cooperation to combat terrorists on Malian territory.
"The mutual commitment to further strengthen Russian-Mali security cooperation to eradicate terrorist groups throughout Mali has also been confirmed," the statement said.
Russia-Africa summit
Putin invited his colleague to attend the second Russia-Africa summit to be held in Russia in 2023.
"Vladimir Putin invited Assimi Goita to attend the second Russia-Africa summit, which is scheduled for the summer of 2023 in St. Petersburg," the statement said.
In addition, Putin and Goita discussed topical issues of further development of bilateral relations, including in the trade and economic sphere, the Kremlin added. It is also reported that the sides agreed to continue contacts.
The Republic of Mali has experienced two military coups since August 2020. During the first one, which took place on August 18, 2020, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was deposed. A military group led by Colonel Assimi Goita appointed Bah Ndaw as interim president of Mali. However, on May 26, 2021, he was ousted by the same military group, with a ruling of Mali's Constitutional Court appointing Goita as head of state for a transitional period.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS