Russia’s deputy foreign minister has reassured African nations that its decision to withdraw from the Ukrainian grain deal will not negatively impact them. Russia has expressed discontent for several months over the related agreement on exporting Russian food and fertilizers not being upheld. However, president Putin stated that Russia might reconsider joining the deal if its requirements are “fully” met, as the agreement had “lost all meaning”. The grain deal, coordinated by the UN and Turkey, facilitated over 32 mln tons of Ukrainian grain exports over the past year. A summit on grain supplies will take place in Saint Petersburg in late July.