Russia’s Lavrov says energy, food crisis ’has nothing to do’ with war in Ukraine during Africa tour

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Uganda on Tuesday as the third stop of his Africa tour after Egypt and the Republic of Congo aimed at rallying support for his sanctions-hit country Lavrov highlighted various areas of cooperation between the two countries, including agriculture and space technology Lavrov blamed the increasing food prices on the “illegal sanctions” imposed on Russia by Western countries He further said Russia was always open to negotiations with Ukraine, but western countries advised Ukraine against diplomacy Uganda relies on wheat exports from Ukraine and Russia to supplement its local food sources In 2020, Uganda imported 33% of its wheat from Russia, And 17% from Ukraine, according to UN trade data Uganda is among the 17 African countries that abstained from a UN vote to condemn Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine I