Delivery time2023-07-20 11:46
After the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Agreement… Demand for lifting of agricultural export restrictions and asset freeze
“I’ll return right away if you listen to my request”… It will be difficult to ease Western sanctions as the invasion continues
Russian President Vladimir Putin
[리아노보스티 연합뉴스 자료사진. 재판매 및 DB 금지]
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Correspondent Yoo Cheol-jong = As Russia adheres to its hardline stance regarding the return of the ‘Black Sea Grain Agreement’, which guaranteed grain exports between the two countries through the Black Sea, even in the midst of the war with Ukraine, there are concerns that confusion in the international grain market will be prolonged.
Russia is sticking to its hardline stance that it will not return to the Black Sea Grain Agreement unless the conditions for lifting export restrictions on its own grains and fertilizers, which are part of the Agreement, are not fulfilled.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who declared withdrawal from the grain agreement on the 17th, demanded at a cabinet meeting on the 19th that “Russian grain and fertilizer exports should be excluded from sanctions, and the freeze on Russian assets related to the agricultural sector should be lifted.” .
“All obstacles to Russian banks and financial institutions related to Russian food and fertilizer exports must also be removed,” he said.
Russia was expelled from SWIFT due to Western sanctions after the invasion of Ukraine in February last year, and as a result, it is experiencing difficulties in financial settlement with countries around the world.
Russia claims that exports of agricultural products and fertilizers are not working properly due to this problem, and is demanding that at least agricultural financial institutions be re-joined to SWIFT.
“We do not need any promises or proposals, but their implementation,” Putin said. “If these conditions are fulfilled, Russia will immediately return to the agreement.”
However, observers say that it is difficult to expect Russia to return to the grain agreement for the time being as it seems difficult for the West to ease or lift sanctions against Russia at a time when Russia is pushing ahead with its invasion of Ukraine.
President Putin argued on the same day that Russia can substitute Ukraine grain even if it is not properly supplied to the international market. .
“Ukraine produced about 55 million tonnes of grain last year and exported 47 million tonnes, while Russia produced 156 million tonnes and exported 60 million tonnes,” he said. 20%, but Ukraine’s share is less than 5%.”
“Russia can substitute Ukrainian grain both commercially and in terms of relief aid,” he said.
In fact, Russia, along with Ukraine, is one of the world’s major grain exporters.
Before the war, both countries were major food suppliers, accounting for about one-third of world wheat and barley exports.
However, even if Russia has significant grain production and supply capabilities, it does not seem easy for Russia’s export volume to increase much more than it is now in a situation where Western sanctions remain in place.
Furthermore, as the grain export route to Ukraine, which was opened through the Black Sea Grain Agreement, is again blocked by the breach of the agreement, it is pointed out that a supply shortage in the international grain market is inevitable.
Ukraine has exported 32.9 million tons of grain through its three Black Sea ports, including Odessa, since the grain agreement was signed in July last year.
After announcing its withdrawal from the agreement, Russia warned that it could not guarantee the safety of Ukrainian grain transporters through the Black Sea.
Furthermore, the Russian Ministry of Defense hinted at the possibility of an attack, saying, “From the 20th, all ships entering Ukrainian ports through the Black Sea will be regarded as a hostile threat potentially carrying military cargo.”
Ukrainian grain exporters passing near Turkiye[AFP=연합뉴스 자료사진. 재판매 및 DB 금지] [2023.07.18 송고]
Report via KakaoTalk okjebo
<저작권자(c) 연합뉴스,
Unauthorized reproduction – redistribution prohibited>
2023/07/20 11:46 Sent
#Putin #replace #Ukrainian #grain.. #International #Food #Market #Confusion #Prolonging #yunhap #news
2023-07-20 02:46:03
