One of the big questions about the summit is whether any African leaders will urge Putin to rescind his decision of last week to pull out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had hoped for a record turnout of African leaders at his second Russia-Africa Summit, which begins in St Petersburg on Thursday. But it seems only 17 African leaders will attend -- less than half the number that turned up for his first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019.

Yuri Ushakov, Putin's top foreign policy adviser, gave Russian news agency Interfax the figure of 17 leaders on Wednesday. It will be a huge blow to Putin as he was hoping for a large show of support from Africa to prove to the world that he is not isolated, despite extensive Western sanctions.

Ushakov blamed Western governments for applying pressure on African leaders not to attend, but it seems many African leaders have been put off by his war against Ukraine and for pulling out of a deal which allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported through the Black Sea.

According to the Financial Times, Nigeria's Bola Tinubu, Kenya's William Ruto, Democratic Republic of the Congo's Felix Tshisekedi, Rwanda's Paul Kagame and Zambia's Hakainda Hichilema are among the prominent leaders who will give the summit a miss. Daily Maverick was unable to confirm this independently.

Among those who...