Putin hails 'natural allies' at Russia-Africa summit in Moscow

President Vladimir Putin welcomed nearly two dozen African leaders to the Kremlin on Wednesday for a two-day Russia-Africa summit. Moscow has long courted the continent as a counterweight to what it sees as Western domination over international affairs. The summit comes as Russia faces heavy Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. They are natural allies in building a multipolar, genuinely democratic world order. A world order free from dictates and double standards, based on respect for the norms of international law and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and in their interconnections. Putin said Russia would increase agricultural shipments and localize the production of Russian medicines in Africa. He also stressed that his country is open to sharing its modern competencies and high-tech digital know-how with its African friends. Our country has always stood by the African peoples, supporting their struggle against colonial oppression. We have consistently and selflessly supported the nations of the continent in their quest for freedom and genuine independence, sovereign development and the right to choose their own models of political and socio-economic systems. The summit is expected to end on Thursday with a final declaration on deepening cooperation between Russia and African nations and a statement on cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence.