Zelensky's adviser on Russia-Africa summit: Putin no longer exists as strong leader

The Russia-Africa summit additionally witnessed Russian President Vladimir Putin's absolute loss of subjectivity, and he no longer exists as a strong leader, according to Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He said this on Ukrainian television, Ukrinform reports.

"He does not exist for us. This is not the kind of person with whom you can agree on something. Not even from the point of view that he is in another value dimension, but because he does not keep his word. He does not influence anything. I believe that the Russia-Africa summit additionally emphasized Putin's absolute loss of subjectivity. Even African countries do not consider him one to be reckoned with," Podolyak said.

He said that many African leaders were absent from the summit, and those who attended the event, as well as those dependent on Russia in the financial and armed context, openly refuse "handouts" and speak from the position of dictation, particularly in terms of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

"Just think about it, African countries do not consider Putin a subject of the global political process. And they have a frankly aggressive conversation with him. For three days, [Putin] has been begging African leaders for something. This is the behavior of a humiliated, confused, panicked person. We made sure that Putin does not exist as a strong leader," Podolyak said.

On July 27-28, St. Petersburg hosted the second Russia-Africa summit. It did not take place at the level expected by the Kremlin and showed the weakness of the Russian president. Seven African leaders attended the summit although 54 were invited to attend. Other countries were represented by delegations headed by ministers or ambassadors. Five more countries avoided participation in the summit.