Putin noted the importance of deliveries of Russian grain to the poorest countries in Africa

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a conversation with an African delegation, noted the importance of delivering Russian grain to the poorest countries in Africa, said press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov.

"The importance of grain deliveries was emphasized, but from the point of view of Russia, primarily Russian grain to the African continent, to the poorest countries, the importance of continuing these deliveries was really accentuated," the spokesman told reporters.

Earlier Sunday, a representative delegation of African leaders arrived in St. Petersburg to meet with President Putin — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegalese President Maki Sall, Comoros President Otman Ghazali and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. The African initiative to resolve the Ukrainian crisis was presented, which consists of ten points. They concern security guarantees, freedom of movement of grain across the Black Sea, the release of prisoners of war and the early start of negotiations.