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America is “exerting unprecedented stress” on African nations, together with making an attempt to disrupt a deliberate Russia-Africa summit, Russia’s deputy overseas minister was quoted as saying late on Saturday.

President Vladimir Putin will host the second Russia-Africa summit in July in St. Petersburg, an occasion supposed to underline his makes an attempt to curry favor in African nations after being shunned by the West over his invasion in Ukraine a yr in the past.

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Deputy International Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, quoted by the state TASS company reiterated Moscow’s accusations of the “collective West” staging a marketing campaign to isolate Moscow.

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“America and its allies are conducting an unprecedented marketing campaign for the political and financial isolation of Russia, together with the disruption of the Russian-Africa second summit in St. Petersburg,” Bogdanov informed TASS.

Moscow calls its invasion of Ukraine not a struggle, however a “particular navy operation.” Kyiv and its Western allies say its an imperialistic act of aggression to grab land.

“For the reason that starting of the particular navy operation, the collective West has considerably elevated stress on African nations – via threats of imposing sanctions, termination of monetary and humanitarian support,” Bogdanov mentioned.

For the reason that begin of the struggle, which has killed hundreds and displace thousands and thousands, Moscow has turned to China, India – and African nations, attempting to hunt nearer ties there.

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Russia has been notably eager to win over African nations — International Minister Sergei Lavrov has visited the continent twice this yr already, along with a tour mid-last yr.

South Africa has been holding 10 days of navy workout routines with the Russian and Chinese language militaries. And the Wagner group of Russian mercenaries has been deployed towards insurgents in Mali and Central Africa.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosted a U.S.-Africa leaders summit in 2022 in Washington, in search of to bolster alliances amid the rising Russian and Chinese language presence on the continent.

Bogdanov mentioned, with out offering proof, that Washington has been making “fabrications” towards Moscow, accusing Russia of attempting to starve the continent or rise gas costs.

The West has imposed a number of waves of sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, and so has the European Union, with Brussels adopted recent punitive measures on Saturday. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Ron Popeski in Winnipeg; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Modifying by Sandra Maler)