Russian President Vladimir Putin, after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said Moscow is not ready to return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which it suspended in July.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Vladimir Putin to agree on the continuation of the grain corridor, blocked by Russia. But Erdogan’s hopes for a grain deal have been in vain.
Kremlin ultimatums
At a joint press conference with Erdogan in Sochi, Putin said that for Russia to return to the “grain deal” it is necessary to fulfill the requirements set by the Kremlin earlier.
“Russia will be ready to revive the grain agreement and will do so as soon as all the fixed agreements are fulfilled,” the Russian president said.
Putin said he was waiting for the lifting of part of the sanctions against the supply of Russian grain and fertilizers to European markets.
The UN, together with Turkey, before the meeting in Sochi, prepared new proposals that could be the basis for the continuation of the grain deal. The UN also noted that these measures “allow for better access of Russian food and fertilizers to international markets at adequate prices.”
Reaction
The US State Department welcomes Turkey’s efforts to restore the “grain deal” despite the fact that Putin’s talks with Erdogan did not end in a breakthrough.
“We applaud the efforts of Turkey and other countries to persuade Russia to return to the agreement. We are working with the United Nations and with Turkey, who have worked hard to make the Black Sea Grain Initiative possible and effective,” the Department said. of the State. in a statement..
The ministry thanked Turkey for its “significant diplomatic and operational efforts” aimed at reaching a new agreement.
The State Department spokesman added that Russia’s decision to end its participation in the initiative “harms food-insecure societies around the world.”
what’s the point
Until recently, Ukraine exported grain through three routes: through Istanbul, while the grain deal was in force, through the ports of the Danube and to Europe through trucks and trains.
Putin cut off the first route by withdrawing from the grain deal and bombing the port of Odessa.
The second route he was trying to cut now. Almost daily, Russian drones set Iranian grain warehouses on fire in the Danube ports.
There remains a third way: through Moldova, through Poland and other land routes to the EU. There are difficulties there, because local farmers do not want competition with cheap Ukrainian grain.
Putin’s ultimatum says one thing: the Kremlin wants by all means to deprive Ukraine of the opportunity to sell agricultural products abroad, which before the war provided 40% of Ukrainian exports. And at the same time to solve the issue of selling their own grain.
It turns out a triple profit: Ukraine loses income, Russia takes its markets, and even sells grain more expensive, because of the absence of cheap Ukrainian corn and wheat, prices will definitely rise.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.