Shunned in the West, his authority tested by a failed mutiny at home, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia needs to project normalcy and shore up support from his allies. So on Thursday, he will host African leaders at a flashy summit in St. Petersburg, part of his continuing outreach to a continent that has become critical to Moscow\u2019s foreign policy.<\/p>\n
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, some African countries have backed Mr. Putin at the United Nations, welcomed his envoys and his warships, and offered control of lucrative assets, like a gold mine in the Central African Republic that U.S. officials estimate contains $1 billion in reserves.<\/p>\n
But if Mr. Putin sought to move closer to African leaders as he prosecuted his war, the 17-month-old conflict is now straining those ties. This summit is expected to draw only half the number of African heads of state or government as the last gathering in 2019, a situation that the Kremlin on Wednesday blamed on \u201cbrazen interference\u201d from the United States and its allies.<\/p>\n
The summit comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Black Sea over Mr. Putin\u2019s recent decision to terminate a deal allowing Ukraine to ship grain to global markets. Russia\u2019s withdrawal has caused food prices to spike, adding to the misery of the world\u2019s poorest countries, including some of those attending the Russia-Africa summit.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shunned in the West and tested by a failed mutiny at home, Vladimir Putin will look to project normalcy and shore up support from other parts of the world as he hosts African leaders at a flashy summit in his home city, St. Petersburg, this week. https:\/\/t.co\/s9flu3mDVI<\/a><\/p>\n — New York Times World (@nytimesworld) July 26, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n