Moscow:Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked that Russia's trade turnover with Egypt is "growing steadily" despite ongoing regional tensions, as he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Moscow. Their meeting took place alongside the Russia-Africa summit, which commenced earlier in the day.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, during the opening remarks of the talks, Putin emphasized the progress achieved since the first Russia-Africa summit in 2019, noting a 50% increase in trade volume since 2022, now exceeding $27 billion. Egypt plays a significant role in this trade growth, and Putin highlighted the shared development priorities between Russia and Africa.

Putin further elaborated on the strong ties between Russia and Egypt, grounded in mutual respect and cooperation. He noted that the bilateral trade turnover rose by 14% in the first eight months of 2026, reaching a record level of over $10 billion in 2025. He praised the ongoing construction of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt as a flagship project, which is progressing on schedule.

President Sisi expressed Egypt's commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership with Russia, focusing on economic and trade cooperation, including grain supplies. He emphasized the significance of the El Dabaa project and the efforts being made to meet payment obligations and complete it according to timelines. Sisi also mentioned potential future collaborations, including new power units and small-scale nuclear reactors.

Later in the evening, Putin met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, where they discussed their shared positions on international affairs and cooperation in the nuclear sector. Ahmed highlighted the need for formal agreements in the nuclear field and expressed optimism about growing bilateral trade with Russia. The summit will conclude with the adoption of a declaration and a new action plan for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.