As he began a tour of African countries reliant on imports for food, Russia’s top diplomat assured Egypt that grain deliveries would go ahead.
“We assured Russian exporters of wheat goods’ resolve to complete their orders in full,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference following discussions with Egyptian colleague Sameh Shoukry.
“During a recent phone chat with Egyptian President (Abdel Fattah) al-Sisi, President Vladimir Putin emphasised this.”

Lavrov’s visit comes on the heels of a historic agreement made by Russia and Ukraine on Friday with the United Nations and Turkey to alleviate a worldwide food crisis caused by delayed Black Sea grain supply.

Since Russian soldiers invaded Ukraine in February, between 20 million and 25 million tonnes of grain have been stopped at Ukrainian ports, while Ukraine has planted naval mines to prevent an amphibious invasion of its coast.

The agreement calls for the establishment of safe lanes for grain shipments from three Ukrainian ports, as well as the removal of Russian grain exports from the purview of Western sanctions.

“The (UN) secretary general (Antonio Guterres) accepted responsibility for easing these illegal limitations imposed by the US and the EU against (Russian) financial and supply systems,” Lavrov said.

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the two nations supplied 85 percent of Egypt’s wheat imports.

Following Egypt, Russia’s top diplomat will go to Uganda, Ethiopia, and Congo.