Putin remained transfixed by Ukraine during Russia-Africa summit – expert

“No offense, since we’re talking live, but he truly looked like a maniac; the one topic of Ukraine seems to haunt him relentlessly,” said Tsymbaliuk.

“(Putin) was supposed to be summing up the Russia-Africa summit, but hardly a word was uttered about Africa. It’s as if he spent three days shaking hands with African leaders (some of whom are quite odious), only to eventually circle back to Ukraine.”

The journalist added that Putin’s phrases about Ukraine’s reluctance to negotiate, while Russia claims to be ready for talks serve as a signal to allies supplying weapons to Ukraine, implying, “maybe we can make a deal, somehow.”

During the Russia-Africa Forum held in St. Petersburg on July 29, the Russian dictator asserted his readiness for negotiations to end the war, before reiterating Moscow’s traditional narrative about Ukraine, the United States, and NATO avoiding negotiations.

In another meeting with African leaders, Putin emphasized that “Ukraine’s neutral status” holds paramount importance for Russia.

In response to Russia’s withdrawal from a grain deal with South Africa last month, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Naledi Pandor, urged Russia on Aug. 2 to return to negotiations.