On an unexpected visit to Nairobi on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Kenyan authorities, as both Moscow and Kiev attempted to increase African support for the Ukrainian conflict.
“During our visit, we will discuss our cooperation in trade, investment, and economic spheres, humanitarian and cultural questions, education, UN cooperation, and many other issues,” Lavrov told Kenyan MPs, according to the Russian foreign ministry.
The trip was not mentioned ahead of time.
The Russian envoy has visited Africa many times in the last year, as global powers vie for influence on the 1.3 billion-person continent.
Lavrov’s visit to Kenya follows that of his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, who visited the country last week.
Foreign Minister Kuleba visited Ethiopia, Morocco, and Rwanda, but he also met with Comoros President Azali Assoumani and AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The Ukrainian official urged African states to abandon their neutral views in the 15-month-old conflict in Ukraine and highlighted an effort by Kyiv to strengthen connections with the continent.
Meanwhile, the second in a series of Russia-Africa summits will be held in Saint Petersburg from July 26 to 29.
