German Development Minister Svenja Schulze warned African countries against tightening cooperation with Russia and its president Vladimir Putin. She told the German media group "Funke": "Anyone promising African countries cheap Russian wheat while bombarding Ukrainian grain ports does not want to combat hunger; they are merely seeking to create new dependencies."

The German minister considered that Russia's actions in Africa are actually aimed at creating dependence and exploitation, and described the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg as "a public relations show by Putin."

She also accused Russia of spreading false and fabricated news, and stated that the outcomes of Russian proposals would be dire. Conversely, she emphasized that "the summit is an opportunity for African partners to confront the Russian president with their demands and the demands of the world, which consist of ending the war and exporting Ukrainian grain without obstacles for the benefit of the entire world."