Egypt calls on Vladimir Putin to revive Black Sea grain deal

A grain ship anchored in the Black Sea. Soaring grain and fuel prices have disproportionately affected African countries. Photograph: Sercan Ozkurnazli/AP

Egypt’s leader, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, has urged Vladimir Putin to return to the Black Sea grain deal during a Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg marked by concerns about the global economic fallout from the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a speech during a plenary session of African delegations attended by the Russian president, al-Sisi said it was “essential to reach agreement” on reviving the deal, which had allowed 33m tons of Ukrainian grain to reach markets, many in developing countries in Africa.