Kenya to sign trade pact with Russia

NAIROBI Reuters - Kenya will sign a trade pact with Russia aimed at boosting cooperation between businesses, President William Ruto's office said on Monday.

Russia has stepped up its drive to boost economic ties with Africa to alleviate a major chill in relations with the West prompted by its Invasion of Ukraine, and plans to hold an Africa-Russia summit in St Petersburg in July.

Kenya's presidency said bilateral trade with Russia is still low despite the potential and the pact would give business the necessary impetus, but it did not say when the pact might be sealed or give details on what it might encompass. Russia now sells mostly grain and fertilisers to Kenya.

In Ukraine, the statement reiterates Kenya's support for respecting the territorial integrity of all countries.

Kenya calls for a resolution of the conflict in a respectable manner. Russia said its invasion of Ukraine was designed to protect its own security against Ukraine's pro-Western leadership.

The leaders of Kyiv and its Western allies allege that Moscow is waging an unprovoked war of aggression. Western nations have instituted sweeping economic sanctions against Russia, prompting it to forge closer ties with China, India, African nations and others.

Lavrov has visited Africa several times this year, while Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, travelled to countries such as Ethiopia, Rwanda and Mozambique last week.

Kenya's president, Mr. Lavrov, said he was heading to Cape Town for a meeting of foreign ministers of the BRICS group of emerging economies, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.