Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with President of the Presidential Council of Libya at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on Tuesday. | AFP-JIJI

Russian President Vladimir Putin will host dozens of African leaders in Moscow as the Kremlin seeks to deepen ties with a continent that has taken on greater strategic importance for Russia since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Delegations from 48 countries including 22 represented by heads of state are expected to attend the third Russia-Africa summit that opens Wednesday, according to state media. Putin plans a series of bilateral meetings with visiting leaders and will take part in the summit’s plenary session on Thursday, the Kremlin said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed are among the leaders due in Moscow.…