Ethiopia receives 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets

Ethiopia has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Wednesday during the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.

Abiy said on X that the aircraft were delivered under an earlier agreement with Russia. He said Ethiopia would also receive four S-400 air defence system batteries, but gave no further details.

The announcement came as tensions remain high between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Ethiopian forces have moved up to the Eritrean border in recent weeks after repelling an advance by Eritrea-backed rebels in Ethiopia's northern Tigray state.

Ethiopia and Eritrea broke diplomatic ties this month. Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki are both attending the Moscow summit, where Russia is hosting delegations from 48 African nations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that Moscow was interested in Ethiopia and Eritrea normalising relations and would provide opportunities for contact during the summit.