President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has forgiven $23 billion in debts that were owed to it by African countries.
Putin said at the first full session of the Russia-Africa meeting in St. Petersburg on Friday that both Russia and Africa want to be independent and have control over their own affairs.
Putin said, “The time when one or more countries ruled is coming to an end, but not without fights from those countries.”
The Russian leader also said that both Russia and Africa are against using climate change, the protection of human rights, and the “gender agenda” for political reasons.
During the Russia-Africa meeting on Friday, Putin said that the Kremlin is “carefully” studying the peace plan from African leaders about the war in Ukraine. He said, “This is a very important issue, and we are not trying to avoid thinking about it.”
“Now Africa is ready to help solve problems that lie, so to speak, outside the area of its fundamental interests,” Putin emphasised. “We value your ideas and will give them careful thought.”
Midway through June, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and several other African leaders went to Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. There, they gave a 10-step plan for peace, in which several African countries agreed to take part.
“The conflict needs to stop getting worse,” Ramaphosa said at the time. He also said, “We want both sides to calm down so that peace can find a way to solve the problem.”