Putin tells African leaders Moscow will not pursue ‘neo-colonialism’

At the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Vladimir Putin said Russia does not engage in the “neo-colonial” exploitation of African resources, unlike former colonial powers. He accused Western countries of pushing African nations into debt and imposing predatory financial terms. Putin said Russian businesses expand local processing of raw materials to create jobs and tax revenue, and offered to broaden the reach of Russian agricultural shipments. He said Russia supplied 13 million metric tonnes of agricultural products to Africa in the first nine months of 2026.