Putin's African food problem

 ISW:

...

Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted to reassure African partner states that Russia will maintain its economic and security commitments during the second day of the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg. Putin addressed African heads of state and representatives at the summit’s plenary session on July 28 and highlighted military-technical agreements with 40 African countries and plans to expand Russia’s diplomatic presence in Africa.[14] Putin stated that Russia aims to help train African partners‘ military and law enforcement personnel and noted that there are many African personnel at the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) academy.[15] Putin also claimed that between 2022 and 2023 Russia wrote off $23 billion of debt for African countries.[16] Putin claimed that Russia has sent almost 10 million tons of grain to African countries so far in 2023 and reiterated a pledge to send 25,000 to 50,000 tons of grain to six African countries in the next three to four months free of charge.[17] Putin pointedly stated that Russia will always be a responsible international supplier of agricultural products, likely aiming to reassure African partners concerned about food security following Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.[18]

African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat stated at the summit that disruptions to energy and grain supplies must end, and both Mahamat and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi explicitly called for the revival of the grain deal.[19] Al-Sissi also promoted a Kremlin talking point that Russia quit the grain deal because the grain corridor was not facilitating grain shipments to the poorest of countries, even though Putin himself cited Russian producers’ losses at depressed grain prices as a primary reason for leaving the deal.[20] African countries are likely appealing to Russia without fully backing its position concerning the grain deal in hopes of retaining Russian economic and security commitments, in line with their likely primary objective to mitigate the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine affecting their economies.[21]
...

Russia's attacks on Ukraine's food exports are the primary source of this problem and promises to take over that food supply are probably not welcome because he has already demonstrated he will use the food supply as a weapon.  If Putin were just unhappy with African payments he would have no need to stop Ukraine shipments.  He would not be blocking Ukraine shipments.

See, also:

African leaders tell Putin: 'We have a right to call for peace'

African leaders pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to move ahead with their plan to end the Ukraine conflict and to renew a deal crucial to Africa on the safe wartime export of Ukrainian grain, which Moscow tore up last week.

While not directly critical of Russia, their interventions on the second day of a summit were more concerted and forceful than those that African countries have voiced until now.

They served as reminders of the depth of African concern at the consequences of the war, especially rising food prices.

"This war must end. And it can only end on the basis of justice and reason," African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat told Putin and African leaders in St Petersburg.

"The disruptions of energy and grain supplies must end immediately. The grain deal must be extended for the benefit of all the peoples of the world, Africans in particular."
...

And:

 Almost 80% of Ukrainians consider all Russians responsible for war

And:

 Russian overnight losses on Tavriia front amount to over 2 companies

...

"Work continues on the Tavriia front. The defence forces are systematically driving the enemy out and are having some success. In particular, Ukrainian troops have liberated Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast and are consolidating their positions.
...

And:

 Russians throw conscripts without combat training into battle – General Staff

And:

 Video captures an anti-tank ditch swallowing a vehicle, showing one of the dangers complicating Ukraine's assault

...

  

...

And:

 Video shows a Ukrainian drone slam into a Russian thermobaric rocket launcher, triggering a massive explosion

...

...

And:

 Strikes on depots in Crimea more significant than Kerch Bridge attack, says former Aydar commander