Jakarta –
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday told the leaders of France and Germany that Moscow was ready to find a way to ship grain stuck in Ukrainian ports. However, Putin demanded the West lift sanctions.
The Kremlin chief also warned French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz against increasing arms supplies to Ukraine, saying they could further destabilize the situation in the pro-Western country.
Putin said difficulties in supplying wheat to world markets were the result of “wrong economic and financial policies of Western countries,” Putin said.
“Russia is ready to help find options for unhindered grain exports, including exports of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports,” Putin told Macron and Scholz, the Kremlin said.
“Increasing the supply of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products will also help reduce tensions in the global food market, which will of course require the removal of relevant sanctions,” he continued.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine and Western sanctions have disrupted supplies of fertilizer, wheat and other commodities from both countries, stoking concerns about the risk of shortages and famine around the world.
Russia and Ukraine produce 30 percent of the world’s grain supply.
(eva / eva)
–
