Putin to African delegates: 'Kiev threw [treaty] into history dustbin'
4 Min Read
Russian President Vladimir Putin reveals he is ready to resume the exchange of war prisoners with Ukraine.
-
In this handout photo provided by Photo host Agency RIA Novosti, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema during a meeting with a delegation of African leaders and senior officials in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, June 17, 2023.
Earlier on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin personally received and greeted the African delegates at the Konstantinovsky Palace to discuss the joint African peace initiative on Ukraine.
The delegation visited Kiev the day before.
"We will have a comprehensive discussion. I will allow myself to express my position, and we will exchange views, including on the results of your trip yesterday," the President said.
Reminding the attendees that all the problems in Ukraine began after the Western-backed state, unconstitutional, armed coup in 2014, He said Russia welcomes Africa's balanced approach to the conflict in Ukraine.
"We welcome the balanced approach of African friends to the Ukrainian crisis," Putin said at the meeting.
He then handed the African delegation the draft of the Istanbul agreement on the Ukraine resolution, which stipulates everything from the number of armed forces to military equipment and personnel, as the Russian President stated.
"Here it is! It exists!" Putin said, revealing the document signed by a Ukrainian representative. "And it is called accordingly - the treaty on permanent neutrality and security guarantees for Ukraine. Exactly about guarantees. Eighteen articles," the Russian leader noted.
Read next: Russia, Africa to jointly build new world order: Putin
The President explained that "there is also an annex to it. They [clauses] also concern the armed forces, other things. Everything is specified - down to the units of combat equipment and personnel of the armed forces. The document is here!," adding that the document had been initialed and signed by the Ukrainian delegation.
"But after we withdrew the troops from Kiev, as we promised, the Kiev authorities, as their masters usually do, threw it all into the dustbin of history. Let's put it clearly. I'll try to put it intelligently. They gave it up," Putin said, adding that he wanted to exchange views with African delegates on their recent visit to Ukraine.
Russia is ready to resume the exchange of prisoners of war with Ukraine, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Regarding prisoners of war, this process is underway. Thank you for mentioning it," he said.
Read next: Moscow, Kiev carry out first prisoner swap this year
The Russian leader said Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other partners have done a lot for the exchange, affirming that "we are ready to continue this process."
Global food market crisis not result of Russia's special operation
The crisis in the global food market is not the result of Russia's special operation but arose due to unjustified emissions by the West, Putin confirmed during the talks.
"I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the crisis in the world food market is by no means a consequence of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. It began long before the situation in Ukraine. And it arose as a result of the fact that Western countries, both the United States and European countries, began to engage in economically unjustified emission in order to solve their problems related to the epidemic of coronavirus infection," he said.
According to Putin, Western countries "swept away all the food products from the world market like a vacuum cleaner in their favor, abusing their monopolistic position and disadvantageous developing countries" through this emission, adding that "this is, as we say, a medical fact. An obvious thing."
The President mentioned that around 31.7 million tonnes of agricultural items were exported from Ukrainian ports, with only 3% of this volume going to needy African countries, implying that the US had "deceived the international community."
He accused the authorities he described as "neo-colonial European, and in fact, American" of deceiving the international community and African countries in need. "31.7 million tonnes were exported, and only three percent went to needy African countries. Isn't that a lie? Accustomed to lying to the world for centuries and continue to do so today."
Wheat is the second most-produced grain in the world after corn; now the whole world might face a wheat supply shortage due to the #Ukrainian crisis and the sanctions imposed on #Russia.#Ukraine #RussiaUkraine pic.twitter.com/aNkRuR4cj7
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 2, 2022
Putin also stated that 38.9%, or 13.3 million tonnes, were shipped to European Union countries. Turkey earned 11% of the total, with the remainder going to other countries.
