Latest news with #OksanaLut
Russia Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russia boosting Africa support with new food shipments
Russia will supply 709.5 tons of food aid to Burkina Faso this May as part of its growing humanitarian support to African nations, Izvestia reported on Thursday, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry. In addition, Moscow is finalizing formal procedures to deliver up to 20,000 tons of wheat to Niger, Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut told the news agency. She indicated that further aid could be arranged 'if agreements are reached.' 'In recent months, we have sent 559 tons of peas and 164 tons of sunflower oil to Zimbabwe [in December 2024], as well as 29,400 tons of diesel fuel to the Central African Republic [in January 2025]. In May, 709.5 tons of peas are expected to be transferred to Burkina Faso,' the ministry announced. Lut emphasized Russia's readiness to continue humanitarian support, confirming that domestic reserves are able to meet future requests. She said such decisions are made at the presidential level and will depend on coordination between heads of state. Speaking to the outlet, Vsevolod Sviridov, the deputy director of the Higher School of Economics Center for African Studies, said African countries have the long-term potential to reduce reliance on humanitarian aid. In an interview, he suggested Russia could offer a unique approach by providing tools like 'drones and digital technologies for agriculture, fertilizers, or seeds adapted to local conditions' instead of traditional aid deliveries. In January, the Russian Embassy in Addis Ababa confirmed to TASS that more than 1,600 tons of grain had been delivered to Ethiopia. On December 30, Moscow also sent over 65 tons of wheat to Mali via the port of Conakry in Guinea. During a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in February, Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev reported that Russia had completed the delivery of 200,000 tons of wheat to six low-income African countries. He described the effort as the largest humanitarian food initiative ever undertaken by the Russian government.
Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Chagos fears rise as Mauritius pledges closer links to Russia
Mauritius and Russia have agreed to strengthen their relationship on fishing and 'marine research', raising fresh fears over the UK's decision to give away the Chagos islands. Representatives of the two countries met in Port Louis, the Mauritian capital, on Friday and agreed to work more closely together on marine issues. The talks have alarmed some in the UK, who point out that Mauritius will soon gain control of the Chagos islands, where there is a strategic British-American military base. Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to sign away sovereignty of the archipelago and lease back Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands, that hosts the base. The Government says the deal, which will cost the UK a reported £9 billion over 100 years, will give the military base 'security' from legal threats by Mauritius, which has long claimed the islands. Critics say it will allow Mauritian allies to build listening posts around Diego Garcia, compromising the security of the base. On Friday concerns were heightened further after a meeting between Oksana Nikolaevna Lut, the Russian agriculture minister, and Arvin Boolell, her Mauritian counterpart. The Mauritian government said the pair discussed their 'commitment to advancing cooperation in agriculture, research, irrigation, and fisheries, and building on a longstanding partnership with a shared focus on sustainable development'. Mr Boolell also visited a historic Russian sailing ship moored in Mauritius, and described the trip as an 'opportunity to deepen collaboration in key sectors, including agriculture, irrigation, and marine research'. Once the transfer of the Chagos islands is complete, Mauritius will control fishing rights in the area, and be responsible for marine conservation. It comes after The Telegraph reported a similar meeting between the Mauritian prime minister and the Chinese ambassador on Thursday. Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said the close ties between Russia and Mauritius raised fresh concerns about the Chagos deal. 'It is inconceivable that a Government whose first concern and priority has to be the defence of the realm would give away one of the most important strategic and military assets we hold to a country which cosies up to a deal with Russia,' she told The Telegraph. 'We simply cannot afford to gamble in any way with our national security and defence and Mauritius's collaboration with Russia, a country responsible for a war on European soil, sums up how catastrophic this knee-bending Labour government is. 'Britain's standing in the world is being crushed by Labour's disregard of our national interest.' Ministers insist that the Chagos deal will contain security guarantees that would prevent spying by foreign powers and point to support for the deal by the Trump administration. The final terms of the agreement, which have not been made public, were expected to be published earlier this month. But government sources said the announcement had been delayed amid nervousness in Downing Street about how it would be received by MPs. The Conservatives and Reform UK have both attacked Sir Keir over the deal, claiming it amounts to a 'surrender' to international courts. Downing Street maintains that it will provide 'legal certainty' that will allow the military base to continue to operate.
The Star
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Cambodia, Russia agree to advance cooperation in key areas
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and Russia on Monday (April 28) agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in major areas for mutual benefits, said the readout by a Cambodian foreign ministry spokesperson. The agreement was made during the 11th Session of the Cambodia-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (IGC) via videoconference, which was co-chaired by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn (pic) and Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut. "After the exchange of views and discussions on a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, the session agreed on a course of actions to advance cooperation in key areas, among them: economy, trade, investment, energy and natural resources, industry, transport, ICT, finance and banking, education, culture and sports, healthcare, and environment," the readout said. - Xinhua
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU vessel sanctions weigh on Russian grain exports, central bank says
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The European Union's sanctions on vessels transporting Russian grain, along with Turkey's wheat import ban, impacted Russian grain exports at the end of 2024, the country's central bank said on Thursday. The EU sanctioned 79 vessels, including four accused of undermining or threatening "the economic subsistence or food security of Ukraine, such as the transport of stolen Ukrainian grain." Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory, with the four regions it officially calls "the new territories" accounting for about 5% of Russia's total grain harvest, estimated at 130 million metric tons in 2024. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. In its balance of payments report, the central bank noted the increasing pressure of Western sanctions on Russian exports, which fell by 2% in 2024. Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter. "The EU has added more than 50 vessels to the sanctions list, which are subject to a ban on entering ports and receiving services, including those transporting grain," the central bank said. The EU listed vessels San Damian, San Cosmas, San Severu, and Enisey in the list published on Dec. 16, 2024. Russia-registered Enisey can transport up to 44,000 tons of cargo. The central bank said Turkey's ban on wheat imports, introduced following a good harvest and partly to protect farmers from low prices, also played a role. Turkey was a major importer of Russian wheat. Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut earlier said that Russian grain exports will fall by one-fifth from last season's record to 57 million tons in 2024-2025, attributing the decline to bad weather. The share of agricultural products in Russia's total exports rose to 10% after about 10 years of strong growth in the sector, triggered by Moscow's ban on food imports from Western countries, imposed in 2014.
