Russia has signed agreements for military cooperation with over 40 African countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in St Petersburg.

“For the purposes of bolstering the defence capability of the continent’s countries, we are developing partnership in the military and military-technical spheres,” Putin said during the second and final day of the second Russia-Africa Summit.

“Russia has signed agreements on military-technical cooperation with

more than 40 African states, to which we supply a broad range of armaments and hardware.”

Putin stated that African states received a wide range of weapons and technology, some for free “with the aim of enhancing the security and sovereignty of the countries.”

Representatives from African countries were invited to actively participate in Russian-organized military forums dealing with the technical aspects of the weapons and also to become familiar with the equipment and its use.

Putin reiterated that Russia would continue to be a reliable supplier of grain to the continent’s countries.

The pledge came after Russia ended a deal that allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported through the Black Sea. Ukraine is a major supplier of grain to Africa.

The chairman of the African Union said in his closing address at the summit that Putin’s proposals to provide grain were insufficient.

“Yes, this is important, but it may not be quite enough. We need to achieve a ceasefire,” Azali Assoumani said.

“President Putin has shown us that he is ready to engage in dialogue and find a solution,” he added. “Now we need to convince the other side.”

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has warned that African countries will experience prolonged consequences after Russia suspended the Ukrainian grain deal.

“The impact of the war in Ukraine will almost certainly compound food insecurity in Africa for at least the next two years,” the ministry said in its daily update on Twitter.

The expired agreement previously enabled the transportation of 30 million tons of Ukrainian grain to other countries via the Black Sea.