MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. The US is putting heavy pressure on African countries in a bid to derail the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg in July 2023, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS in an interview.

"Indeed, the US and its allies are leading an unprecedented campaign of political and economic isolation of Russia, including efforts to disrupt the second Russia-Africa summit to be held in St. Petersburg in July," said Bogdanov, who is also the presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa.

"With the start of the special military operation the collective West has significantly stepped up the pressure on African countries by threatening to apply sanctions and end financial and humanitarian aid," the official said. "The Americans on the daily basis fabricate accusations blaming us for future famine, increased prices of fuel, grain and fertilizers and, consequently, exacerbation of social and economic issues on the continent."

Bogdanov said that it’s the tradition of Russian diplomacy, which has a centuries-old history, "to take into account all possible external factors, to promote its own agenda, to put the state interests of Russia and its friends at the forefront."

"And we don’t intend to deviate from this course," he said. "Our country resolutely defends the principle of free choice of the path of development of sovereign countries, which is the key idea of the upcoming second Russia-Africa summit."

Currently, according to the deputy minister, preparations for the event are in full swing, as its agenda is being worked out together with Africans.

"We receive confirmations of participation in the upcoming summit from the leaders of the states of the continent, and this is a signal for us of the principled support from a significant bloc of countries, despite the enormous pressure of the West," Bogdanov said.