The President of Russia proposes that Ukraine can export grain on freight trains via Belarus. – A political shell, says researcher.
Just updated
–
On Russian television on Friday night, President Vladimir Putin spoke about the situation in the global food market.
He distanced himself from accusations that Russia was blocking the export of grain from Ukraine, reports Reuters.
Putin called the allegations a hoax, claiming that Western countries were trying to cover up their own mistakes by accusing Russia of problems in the global food market.
“The situation will worsen because the British and Americans have imposed sanctions on our fertilizer,” he said in the interview.
He said the best solution to get grain out of Ukraine is to ship it via Belarus. But the condition is that the sanctions against the country are lifted, he maintained.
Russia’s warships control access to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea and have occupied large parts of Ukraine’s southern coastline.
Putin also claimed that the global food shortage will only get worse as a result of British and American sanctions on Russian fertilizers.
–In his nightly speech on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Zelenskyj condemned the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports.
He believes the blockade increases the risk of starvation in the countries that depend on Ukrainian grain, which could lead to a new migration crisis.
Zelensky described it as a cynical lie when Russia says the sanctions prevent it from exporting its food.
– Shell hide
Lieutenant Colonel and teacher at the Norwegian Defense College, Geir Hågen Karlsen, describes Putin’s proposed transport route through Belarus as a political cover-up.
– It’s completely unrealistic. The volumes are so large that it is completely unrealistic to carry it that way. Much of it goes to Egypt and the Middle East, so then it should be transported by boat through the Mediterranean, he says.
–He further points out that Russia has destroyed the railway bridge over the Dniester river in a missile attack.
The bridge is an important transport route between Ukraine and Romania and has been seen as an alternative export route for grain if Ukrainian ports were occupied.
– There is no connection between the Russians’ statement and that they want to have the grain exported, Hågen Karlsen states.
Affects poor countries
Arne Bardalen is a special adviser in NIBIO, an agricultural research institute.
He points out that the importing countries of Ukrainian wheat are generally countries that in part spend a relatively large part of their income on food.
– The consequence of the wheat price increasing is that the bread price increases even stronger. It affects these countries, which are partly poor countries where wheat and bread are an important part of the diet, says Bardalen.
–Ukraine has previously been a major exporter of wheat to countries in North Africa, the Middle East, East Africa and Indonesia.
– There are now more than 20 million tonnes of grain stored in Ukraine that should have been exported. It is important that it is exported before the harvest begins.
Without the capacity to store the grain, it will rot. This will intensify the already ongoing food crisis, Bardalen points out.
Accused of exporting to Turkey
Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey accuses Russia of stealing and sending Ukrainian grain abroad, including to Turkeywrites NTB.
– Russia shamelessly steals Ukrainian grain and sends it abroad from the Crimean peninsula, including to Turkey, says Ambassador Vasyl Bodna.
– We have asked Turkey for help in resolving the matter, he adds.
–
