Putin promises African leaders a trade deal free from colonial legacy

Vladimir Putin told African heads of state in Moscow that Russia will not repeat the mistakes of former European colonizers.

The Russian president addressed the third Russia-Africa Summit on Wednesday. He argued that Western nations continue to exploit the continent’s resources and use debt to limit development. He stated that Russia expands local processing of raw materials to create jobs and tax revenue instead of extracting resources for foreign gain.

Putin highlighted the volume of trade to support his position. He noted that Russia supplied 13 million metric tonnes of agricultural products to Africa during the first nine months of 2026. He told delegations from 48 African countries that Moscow is ready to expand the geographic reach of these shipments. Twenty-two of those delegations were represented by their heads of state.

The summit took place against a backdrop of regional instability. Russian-backed government forces in North Africa are fighting armed rebellions in several countries. Many of these nations have emerged from recent military coups. Putin criticized Western attempts to force Africans into accepting financial resources on predatory terms, which he said slowed long-term development.

Global supply chains face current disruptions that affect the continent. Attacks in the Black Sea continue to interrupt grain exports from both Russia and Ukraine. The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has also interrupted global fertilizer supplies. Putin described the emergence of a multipolar world as difficult but inevitable, facing resistance from countries that do not accept this reality.

Putin is scheduled to hold one-on-one talks with individual leaders in attendance. These discussions will cover trade, security, grain supplies, and arms deals. The summit is expected to conclude with a final declaration on deepening cooperation between Russia and African nations.