Putin's Pledge: Free Grain for 6 African Nations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to send free grain to six poor African countries as he launched a summit with African leaders in St. Petersburg. This move comes after Russia withdrew from a grain export deal with Ukraine, which had helped stabilize global food prices. The summit is seen as a test of Putin's support in Africa, where he retains backing despite international isolation due to his military intervention in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged African leaders to demand answers about the grain disruptions, while the Kremlin accused Western countries of trying to prevent African states from participating in the summit.