🎙 Opening remarks by President of Russia Vladimir Putin at a meeting with President of Kenya William Samoei Ruto on the sidelines of the Third Russia–Africa Summit (Moscow, October 29, 2026) 💬 Vladimir Putin: Diplomatic relations between our countries were established back in 1963, and we are gradually approaching their 65th anniversary. We maintain regular political dialogue at various levels. I remember your predecessor attending the first Summit in Sochi in 2019. Kenya has participated in all three summits. Our foreign ministers exchange visits, and our parliaments maintain regular contacts. 🇷🇺🇰🇪 We are interested in further developing trade and economic cooperation with Kenya. I would like to note that bilateral trade almost doubled in January-August of this year. This is a positive trend that we must sustain. Supplies of Russian agricultural products have increased. Russia is also one of the leading exporters of fertilisers. Once again, I would like to stress the importance of maintaining this positive momentum. We maintain fruitful cultural and humanitarian ties. We help train Kenyan professionals and are gradually increasing the scholarship quota for your young people, who, as I understand it, enjoy studying in Russia. 70 scholarships have been allocated for civilian fields of study next year. Russian performing arts groups regularly visit Kenya. The Russian Ballet Academic Theatre performed there last December, followed by the Khokhloma ensemble in June and the Rossiya ensemble in September, among others. Just a month ago, Nairobi hosted a Day of Russian Culture. Kenyan performers also participate in international music competitions in Russia. 🤝 We share positions on a number of key international issues, including strengthening the UN’s central role, the importance of respecting its Charter, and building a #MultipolarWorld order. Nairobi hosts a UN office, and we support further strengthening Kenya’s role in this universal organisation. It is the only UN headquarters located in a country of the Global South. Nairobi has even earned the unofficial title of the world’s environmental capital. We are very pleased about this, and much of it is thanks to the efforts of the Kenyan people themselves. Russia consistently advocated establishing a UN office in Kenya. We support strengthening it, stepping up negotiations, and locating the secretariats of new environmental mechanisms and agreements there. #RussiaKenya