Putin woos African leaders at a summit in Russia with promises of expanding trade and other ties

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed Africa’s growing role in global affairs and offered to expand political and business ties as he courted leaders from the continent at a summit in St. Petersburg. Addressing the Russia-Africa summit for a second day, Putin said on Friday that Moscow would closely analyze a peace proposal for Ukraine that African leaders have sought to pursue. He also reiterated that Russia would maintain steady supplies of grain and other agricultural products to the continent following its withdrawal from a deal allowing grain shipments from Ukraine. Without specifically mentioning the fighting in Ukraine, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni denounced those who foment ideologically-driven military conflicts as “time and opportunity wasters.”