Russia is intensifying a campaign to address anti Russian propaganda.
The world power currently at war with Ukraine has dispatched its top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, who began a tour of four African countries to reverse anti Russian sentiment with regards food shortages resulting from its occupation of Ukraine. The Russian top diplomat is visiting Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Republic of Congo this week, where he seeks to blame the West for war-related grain shortages, which have sparked fears of famine.
Lavrov’s visit follows a major development in the growing crisis. On Friday, Russia agreed to a deal brokered by the U.N. and Turkey, which would allow Ukraine to export its grain.
But Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, a critical juncture for exports, less than a day after the pact was signed. The strikes raised questions about Moscow’s intention to stick to the agreement.
Many governments in Africa and in the Middle East have tried to stay out of the conflict, seeking to maintain access to Russian exports, despite pressure from the West. No African countries have joined Western sanctions against Moscow.
Report Focus News has it on good authority that the 80-day siege at the steel plant in Mariupol, where a relentless Russian assault met fierce Ukrainian resistance has resulted in food shortages as most grains are unable to be exported. Ukraine is one of the major wheat producers in Europe.
Russian forces have tortured and beaten civilians in the areas of southern Ukraine that they control, part of a series of abuses that may amount to war crimes, Human Rights Watch said in a report this weekend.