Ukraine's Foreign Minister began his tour of the continent in Senegal this week. He promised Ukraine would do all it could to send more grain to Africa.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister began his tour of the continent in Senegal this week. He promised Ukraine would do all it could to send more grain to Africa.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Promises to Export Grain to Senegal and Africa
After meeting with Senegal's President and foreign minister on Monday in Dakar, Kuleba said Ukraine would send boats full of seeds for Africa.
We will all do our best to ensure exporting Ukrainian grain to Africa and the world for food security continues, Kuleba said at a joint press briefing with Aissata Tall Sall his Senegalese counterpart.
Senegal's President, the current chairman of the African Union, urged Ukraine and Russia to resume their grain exports despite the ongoing war.
Many African countries heavily depend on grain imports from Ukraine and Russia. During market shortages, Russia has sought to portray the West as the villain, blaming it for rising food prices.
Meanwhile, Western leaders have accused the Kremlin of cynically using food as a weapon and waging an imperial-style war of conquest.
Africa has somewhat stayed neutral on Ukraine: 25 African countries voted to abstain or did not vote on the U.N. resolution that condemned the war in Ukraine in the first quarter of this year. Senegal was among the countries that abstained. Last month its President, Macky Sall, told the U.N. General Assembly that Africa doesn't want to be a breeding ground for a new Cold War.
Despite these positions of neutrality, Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said he wants to deepen Ukraine's ties to Africa.
On Monday, Kuleba said, he did not come to Africa against anyone. On the contrary, we must strengthen our cooperation. Our future depends on what happens daily and the relationships we build, so we must improve our collaboration.
Kuleba criticized Russia's statements. He made this known when he said Senegalese might be surprised if they listen to Russian propaganda. For example, Russia wants to make people believe that the war started because Ukraine wants to be a member ofNATO. But Finland wants to be a member, yet Russia did not attack it.