In an article published earlier on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote that Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain agreement that ensured the safe export of Ukrainian grains because it had lost its meaning.
In the article, published on the Kremlin’s official website, Putin said: “The continuation of the ‘food agreement’ – (which) did not justify its humanitarian purpose – has lost its point.”
In February last year, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out. Since then, Ukraine, known as the “breadbasket of Europe”, has been interrupted for nearly half a year in grain exports, exacerbating the global food crisis.
Under the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey, Russia and Ukraine reached a Black Sea food agreement in July last year. According to the agreement, Ukraine was able to resume grain exports in the Black Sea region, while the West was supposed to facilitate the export of Russian food and fertilizers. The agreement is valid for 120 days. The agreement was extended several times in November last year, March and May this year, and finally expired on July 17 this year.
Last week, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea food deal,and said its proposed extension conditions were ignored。
Ukrainian food export ports come under attack after Russia pulls out of deal One person was killed and dozens were injured in an attack in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa on Sunday.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Friday that Russia is willing to consider returning to the Black Sea food agreement as long as Russia’s demands are met.
The five conditions covered by the normalization of Russian agricultural exports include the reconnection of the Agricultural Bank of Russia to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), transportation logistics, insurance, financial activities, and the normalization of ammonia transportation in the Togliatti-Odessa pipeline.
This year’s harvest is expected to hit a record high
Ahead of the second Russia-Africa summit to be held in St. Petersburg this Thursday and Friday, Putin also wrote,Russia’s harvest expected to hit record high this year. “I want to make sure that our country has the capacity to replace Ukraine’s grain,” he said.
Russia and the West have been jockeying for influence in Africa. Although Russia has so far invested little in Africa, the country has been making diplomatic efforts to win the continent’s support, according to the United Nations.
“Russia will continue to actively organize the supply of grain, food, fertilizers, etc. to Africa: we attach great importance to and continue to actively develop all-round economic relations with Africa,” Putin wrote.
(Article source: Financial Associated Press)
Article source: Financial Associated Press
Original title: Putin: Black Sea food agreement becomes meaningless this year’s Russian harvest is expected to hit a record high
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2023-07-24 00:36:17
