Key African states stressed the need for grain imports to tackle food insecurity as Russian President prepares to discuss with the continent’s leaders the fate of a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of food and fertiliser from Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia was considering quitting the Black Sea grain initiative - brokered by the UN and Turkey in July 2022 - because its own grain and fertiliser shipments still face obstacles. The pact could expire on July 17.

A delegation of African leaders is due to visit both Ukraine and Russia from this week in a push to end Russia’s 16-month long war.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that he hoped the talks between Putin and the African leaders led to “a positive outcome in relation to the Black Sea initiative, as well as in relation to the efforts that we are making for the exports of Russian food and fertilizer”.

According to U.N. data, more than 31 million tonnes of grain have been exported under the pact, with 43% of that to developing countries. More than 625,000 tonnes of grain has been shipped by the U.N. World Food Programme for aid operations.