The Kremlin announced plans to “open the way to peace” following a meeting with Africa

African leaders noted the progress made in their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on issues related to children's rights in the war zone and prisoner exchanges between RUSSIA and Ukraine.

This is stated in a joint statement following the summit between Russia and representatives of the African Peace Initiative, which was published on the Kremlin website.

According to African heads of state, humanitarian efforts will continue to bear fruit. The leaders also agreed to continue dialogue on the African Peace Initiative to "open the way to peace" and called on the UN to take steps to release the 200,000 tons of Russian fertilizer blocked in European ports.

Earlier this statement was published by the administration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

On July 29, Putin said that the meeting with representatives of African countries on Ukraine in St. Petersburg was fruitful. He noted that the talks benefited both bilateral relations and relations with African states in general.

On August 3, Washington announced its readiness to provide Moscow with guarantees for the security of food exports when it returns to the grain deal. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Russia's statements about non-compliance with requirements related to the grain deal are incorrect.

Food and fertilizer are excluded from the sanctions, he said , and Moscow  exported more grain at higher prices than ever before the initiative was signed.