HARARE, March 20. /TASS/. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his recent victory in the presidential election.

"I congratulate my dearest friend, the Russian president, on his victory in the election. From the entire Zimbabwean people, I express sincere gratitude to Russia for such timely help. It is another proof of our great relations. The Russian government, as well as the people, extended us a helping hand during a tough time for our country," Mnangagwa said, addressing the solemn ceremony of handing humanitarian supplies of grain and fertilizers to Zimbabwe, a TASS correspondent reports.

"Zimbabwe and Russia established true friendly relations during our liberation struggle," the president continued. "Russia has played a key role in training our sons for the armed confrontation for freedom. As time passed, these relations transformed into a mutually beneficial and strategic partnership. Our countries were both exposed to illegal sanctions from the Western hegemonic powers. Through all these challenges, Russia proved to be a reliable ally. Now it is helping us in overcoming the aftermath of global climate change and ensuring food security," Mnangagwa added.

Russia has supplied Zimbabwe with 25,000 tons of wheat in accordance with Putin’s decision at the 2nd Russia-Africa summit. As many as 23,000 tons of fertilizers were also granted to the republic by the Uralhim and Uralkaly group of companies, assisted by the World Food Program (WFP) in order to implement Putin’s 2022 initiative on aiding African countries.

Russian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Nikolay Krasilnikov told a TASS correspondent in an interview that "such a contribution to ensuring food security stresses Russia’s responsible attitude to the development of relations with Africa, including in commerce.".