Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the United States, France, and other Western countries of employing unprecedented pressure on African states prior to the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg. The purpose of this pressure was to deter African countries from participating in the summit, Peskov strongly criticized such actions, describing them as reprehensible.
"I won't go into all the details, but it's important to note that we are well aware that almost all African states have faced unprecedented pressure from the United States and French embassies, which have been very active in their efforts. Additionally, other Western missions are also doing their part to prevent this summit from taking place and discourage African states from attending," Peskov explained.
"The stance taken by the United States, France and other countries is condemnable and deserves condemnation. In essence, they are undermining the sovereign right of African states to independently choose their partners, whether it be for enhancing cooperation and interaction in various domains or for discussing pressing matters," the Kremlin spokesman emphasized.
In light of these circumstances, Peskov noted the significance of Russia engaging with Africans and continuing the dialogue. He stressed the importance of addressing the terminated grain deal, its reasons, Russia's efforts to stabilize world markets, and its responsible conduct in this matter, along with any unfulfilled obligations from either side. These topics are expected to be discussed during the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg, as noted by TASS.
The second Russia-Africa summit is scheduled to take place at the Expoforum in St. Petersburg on July 27-28, alongside a concurrent economic and humanitarian forum. The event will be held under the same theme as the previous summit, "For Peace, Security and Development." The Roscongress Foundation is the organizer of the summit, while TASS serves as the photo host agency and information partner for both the summit and forum.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS