Assimi Goita has described cooperation with Moscow as free from "manipulation" and "demagoguery"

Transitional Malian President Assimi Goita has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for his honesty and practical approach to international relations, calling him a sincere statesman.

Goita made the comments after meeting with Putin during an official visit to Russia last week, as reported by Malian outlet L'Essor on Monday. The Kremlin meeting concluded with the signing of several agreements, including on economic cooperation and peaceful nuclear energy.

"President Vladimir Putin is a pragmatic and sincere man. We have seen [it] through his gestures, all his openness," Goita said.

He expressed appreciation for the warm reception extended to him in Russia and emphasized that Mali's growing partnership with Moscow, especially in the security domain, had yielded concrete results. Without naming France directly, Goita noted that Mali had cut ties with former allies, adding that "with Russia we [Mali] were able to arm ourselves."

"Cooperation with Russia is effective. It is without demagogy, without manipulation," he told reporters.

Goita also confirmed that his meeting with Putin touched on the potential for broader collaboration between Russia and the Alliance of Sahel States. He said discussions centered on three key areas: diplomacy, defense, and development.

Ties have been growing between Russia and the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. In April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to bolstering the defense capabilities of AES countries. He stated that Russia was prepared "to actively assist in building the capacity of the joint forces of the Sahel states, enhancing their combat readiness, as well as that of the national armed forces of each of the three countries, and in training military personnel and law enforcement officers."

READ MORE: Russia and Mali sign nuclear energy deal

This was Goita's second visit to Russia. He previously met Putin during the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg in 2023. As part of this year's trip, the Malian leader also visited the Republic of Tatarstan in central Russia.