Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged African countries to integrate into Russia-backed international payment systems, saying the technology could facilitate faster and more secure cross-border transactions.

Speaking during the third Russia–Africa Summit, Putin introduced African leaders to A7, a specialised international settlement platform designed to process payments using traditional and digital currencies.

Putin said modern payment technologies could enable real-time transactions while improving convenience and transparency, adding that the systems operated in accordance with international law.

“Digital currencies are developing in both the US and Russia. Why shouldn’t the African continent connect to this high-tech system?” Putin said.

He also highlighted what he described as the platform’s independence from external restrictions, arguing that its infrastructure would make it difficult for outside parties to interfere with transactions.

“No one will be able to block your transactions. From a technological standpoint, it is simply impossible to cut off these types of settlements. Absolutely impossible,” he stated.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told the summit that A7 was expanding its presence in Africa, citing its transaction speed and relatively low costs.

“Payments are executed instantly in a single click, and the transaction cost is just 0.3%, which is remarkably low,” Siluanov said.

Meanwhile, Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, said Russian banks, foreign partners and non-banking financial institutions were already facilitating international payments outside the Western financial network.

He said Moscow was ready to share the technology with partner countries as part of efforts to expand alternative international payment infrastructure.

A7 is targeting the African market as part of its international expansion strategy. In 2025, the company established regional representative offices in Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

The proposal comes amid Russia’s broader efforts to strengthen financial and economic cooperation with African countries by offering alternative payment channels for international trade and transactions.