![This pool image distributed by Sputnik agency shows Russian President Vladimir Putin giving a speech during the plenary session of the second Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg on July 27. Attendance by African leaders fell by more than half from the first summit, in 2019. [Alexey Danichev/Pool/AFP]](/cnmi_ca/images/2023/07/27/43202-africa-739_416.webp)
Seventeen African leaders are expected at the Russia-Africa summit taking place in St. Petersburg on Thursday (July 27) and Friday -- fewer than half of the 43 who came to the first Russia-Africa summit in 2019.
The small handful of attending leaders is no doubt a major disappointment to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since the start of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has sought to strengthen diplomatic and security ties with Africa.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed African leaders attending the summit to demand answers about the grain disruptions that have propelled poorer nations towards crisis.
African leaders know that rising food costs, grain and fertiliser shortages are a direct result of Putin's war in Ukraine, said Blinken.
"They know exactly who's to blame for this current situation," Blinken said of the leaders, some of whom have offered tacit support for Moscow or refused to denounce Putin's invasion.
"My expectation would be that Russia will hear this clearly from our African partners," he said, speaking during a visit to New Zealand.
Russia terminates grain deal
The grain crisis has intensified since Russia withdrew from a deal that allowed Ukraine to export 33 million tonnes of wheat and other grains.
"It was the equivalent of exporting 18 billion loaves of bread through this one corridor that Russia has now shut down," Blinken said.
"It wasn't only pulling out. What have they done since they pulled out? They've repeatedly bombed the port of Odesa. They've laid mines in the Black Sea. They've explicitly threatened shipping. I think that sends a very clear message."
In an attempt to save face, the Kremlin has accused Western countries of trying to prevent African states from participating in the summit.
Russia's Wagner mercenary group has been a major player in the security sphere in Africa but its failed mutiny against Russia's military leadership last month has cast doubt on the future of the group's operations on the continent.
The summit comes a month ahead of a summit of leaders of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) due to take place in Johannesburg.
South Africa has said that Putin, who is the subject of an international arrest warrant for his actions in Ukraine, will not be attending in person.
It seems having invited African leaders to his summit, Putin forgot to warn them that, instead of traditional delicacies, they would have to enjoy the consequences of his combat in Ukraine. Maybe he would have welcomed more guests had he spent less time undermining the global food market and more time forging trusting relations. But "who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl" - it looks like Putin is now seen as an unreliable and toxic partner in Africa.
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