- Sputnik International, 1920
Russia
The latest news and stories from Russia. Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on defense, politics, economy and more.

Putin: Grain Deal Used to Enrich US & Europe, Lost Its Meaning

© Sputnik / Vitaly Timkiv / Go to the mediabankA view shows wheat ears to be harvested in the fields of Progress-Agro company in Krasnodar region, Russia.
A view shows wheat ears to be harvested in the fields of Progress-Agro company in Krasnodar region, Russia. - Sputnik International, 1920, 24.07.2023
Subscribe
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The grain deal did not justify its humanitarian purpose and was used only to enrich the United States and Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote in an article titled "Russia and Africa: Joining Efforts for Peace, Progress and a Successful Future" published by the Kremlin on Monday.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, commonly known as the grain deal, which provided for a humanitarian corridor to allow exports of Ukrainian grain over the past year, expired on July 18, as Russia did not extend its participation. Moscow has been repeatedly critical of the fact that the deal's provisions pertaining to Russia had not been fulfilled.
"Many have probably heard of the so-called ‘grain deal,’ whose initial purpose was to ensure global food security, reduce the threat of hunger and help the poorest countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America – the reason why Russia undertook the obligation to facilitate its implementation in the first place. This ‘deal,’ however, while it was publicly advertised by the West as a gesture of goodwill that benefited Africa, has in fact been shamelessly used solely for the enrichment of large US and European businesses that exported and resold grain from Ukraine," Putin said.
A boat with Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and U.N. officials heads to the Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni, to check if the grain shipment is in accordance with a crucial agreement signed last month by Moscow and Kiev, at an inspection area in the Black Sea off the coast of Istanbul, Turkiye, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022.  - Sputnik International, 1920, 17.07.2023
What is the Black Sea Grain Deal? Everything You Need to Know
The Russian president emphasized that, in almost a year, a total of 32.8 million tonnes (metric tons) of supplies were exported from Ukraine under the grain deal, with over 70% of the exports ending up in high- and upper-middle-income countries, while countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia, as well as Yemen and Afghanistan, received less than 3% of the supplies.
"In the meantime, none of the ‘deal’ provisions relating to the exemption from sanctions of Russian grain and fertiliser exports to world markets, were fulfilled," Putin wrote.
The Russian president stressed that barriers have been mounted to Russia’s attempts to supply free of charge mineral fertilizers to the poorest countries in need.
"Of 262,000 tonnes of goods blocked in European ports, only two shipments were delivered – one of 20,000 tonnes to Malawi and one of 34,000 tonnes to Kenya. The rest is still unscrupulously held by the Europeans. And this is a purely humanitarian initiative we are talking about, which should be exempt from any sanctions as such," Putin said, adding that, considering all these facts, "there is no longer any use in continuing the ‘grain deal’ as it has failed to serve its original humanitarian purpose."
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала