Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, stated in a joint press conference with Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union and President of Burundi, that there will be no winners in a military confrontation between Russia and Europe if the situation worsens. He said, "If the situation deteriorates too much, there will be no winners. No one should forget this."
Russia's Readiness for Possible Developments
Putin further emphasized that Moscow does not seek war with Europe but is prepared for any possible developments. He pointed to the failure of European countries to achieve their strategic goals against Russia and mentioned that the situation in the Baltic Sea was also discussed in recent talks with the leaders of Finland and Norway. Putin expressed hope that the situation in the Baltic Sea would not unfold similarly to the Persian Gulf, but at the same time stated that Russia is fully prepared for any developments in this regard.
Strengthening Relations with African Countries
In this conference, Putin referred to the initiative of Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland, and Jonas Gahr Støre, the Prime Minister of Norway, to establish dialogue with Russia as a correct action, stating that these discussions were aimed at strengthening international relations and bilateral cooperation. He also emphasized the importance of reviving relations with African countries, saying, "We support any effort to revive relations with Europe and African countries."
Putin continued by mentioning Russia's close cooperation with African countries in foreign policy, stating, "Our positions on most global and regional issues are not only close but in many cases completely identical." He emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of African countries in international affairs and a fairer representation of the continent in the global decision-making system.
Putin also referred to global changes and the need for reforms in the international system, stating that fundamental decisions should be made based on broad consensus. He described this issue as timely and correct, saying, "African countries have always been friends of Russia. We have never considered them a battleground for competition with others."
In conclusion, Putin pointed to Russia's successes in grain exports, stating, "Today, Russia ranks first in the world in grain exports. Not long ago, we were completely grain importers, but now we have become one of the largest exporters." He also mentioned the challenges faced by African countries regarding logistics infrastructure and emphasized the necessity of cooperation in modern technologies.
