The two leaders also shared the desire “to strengthen Russian-Malian cooperation in the security sphere”.
Le Monde with AFP
Vladimir Putin spoke Tuesday October 4 by phone with the chief of the Malian junta Assimi Goïta, saying that he wanted to distribute Russian fertilizers blocked because of Western sanctions since the offensive in Ukraine.
“It was highlighted the importance of carrying out the initiative of Russia concerning free delivery to countries in need of around 300,000 tonnes of fertilizer [Russians] blocked in European ports due to illegal sanctions “Said the Kremlin in a press release. Without going into detail of the conversation, the leader of the Malian junta for his part praised on Twitter “a win-win partnership based on mutual respect”.
In September, the Russian president said that these fertilizers remained stuck in European Union ports (EU), despite the agreement between Moscow and kyiv to allow the export of Ukrainian cereals of the sea ports Black and lift Western sanctions hindering that of Russian agricultural productions.
Vladimir Putin had accused the EU of wanting to appropriate these fertilizers and promised that, if Moscow managed to recover them, they would be delivered for free developing countries. According to the Kremlin, Russian and Malian leaders also shared the desire on Tuesday to strengthen Russian-Malian cooperation in the security sphere to eradicate terrorist groups from all over Mali “.
Colonel Assimi Goïta and a group of high officers took power by force in August 2020. They then decided to separate from the old French ally, militarily engaged against jihadists since 2013, and to relaunch cooperation with Russia. Mali has since received Moscow weapons and welcomed in large numbers what the junta presents as Russian instructors. Westerners say that these instructors work for the private Russian security company Wagner with the actions criticized. The junta denies.
The last official telephone interview between Vladimir Putin and Assimi Goïta dates back mid-August, after the delivery of new Russian military equipment. Tuesday, Vladimir Putin also invited Assimi Goïta to participate in the next Russian-Africa summit, which is to be held in the summer of 2023 in Saint Petersburg.