Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Western countries of seeking to deepen African nations’ financial dependency and pledged to expand Russia’s exports of grain and fertilisers to the continent, speaking at the opening of the third Russia-Africa Summit, which began on Wednesday in Moscow.

“We are witnessing active attempts by Western countries to once again plunge Africans into debt, imposing much-needed financial resources under abusive conditions,” Putin told the summit’s plenary session, arguing that high interest rates undermine African countries’ long-term development plans.

The Russian leader maintained that the consolidation of a multipolar world order is an irreversible trend, while acknowledging that some countries continue to resist that transformation.

Putin also assured delegates that Moscow intends to deepen its relations with African countries on the basis of “equality and friendship”, expressing willingness to broaden its support to the continent.

According to Putin, more than 40 African countries already receive fertilisers and grain from Russia. In the first nine months of 2026, Russia exported 13 million tonnes of agricultural products to Africa, he added.

Putin also highlighted the growth of African agricultural exports to the Russian market, which, according to his figures, already account for 8% of that market’s needs — a share he said should increase further.

On education, Putin noted a rise in the number of African students at Russian universities and called on African airlines to establish direct air links with Russia.

The third Russia-Africa Summit runs through Thursday and includes panel sessions on transport, historical memory, and the fight against neo-colonialism, with Mozambican officials among the participants.

The programme includes two plenary sessions and the adoption of three documents: a final declaration on deepening cooperation between Russia and African countries, a declaration on Artificial Intelligence, and an action plan for the Russia-Africa Cooperation Forum covering the period 2027 to 2029.

At least 33 documents are also expected to be signed, including intergovernmental agreements, memoranda of understanding, and commercial contracts.

According to Russian state media, delegations from 48 countries are attending the summit, 22 of which are represented at head-of-state level. Among Portuguese-speaking African nations, Mozambique and Equatorial Guinea are participating at the highest level, while Angola, Cabo Verde, and Guinea-Bissau are represented by ministerial officials.