Putin clarifies position on grain deal
MOSCOW. – The grain deal between Moscow and Kiev has not met its stated goals, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Most of the Ukrainian agricultural products exported under the agreement have not reached the poorer nations they were supposedly intended for and have instead ended up in Europe and Turkey, he argued.
Mr Putin said Moscow was suspending its participation in the deal, but not fully withdrawing from it. The deal was promoted to “secure the interests of the poorer nations,” he said, adding that, according to Russian intelligence, the real structure of Ukraine’s grain exports is vastly different.
“We agreed to that [grain deal] precisely in the interests of the poorer nations,” the Russian president said. “On the whole, it looks like 34% of [the Ukrainian] grain gets to Turkey, 35% or even more is taken by the EU nations and only between three and four … or five percent, according to our Agriculture Ministry goes to the poorer nations,” Mr Putin said.
Ukraine “grossly violated” the Istanbul agreement on grain exports via the Black Sea and forced Moscow to suspend it indefinitely,
Russia’s envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council on Monday.
The Russian Navy will inspect all cargo ships bound for Ukraine, even those unilaterally cleared by the Turkish-based coordination center, he added.
“This subversive action of Kiev grossly violates the Istanbul agreements and, in fact, puts an end to their humanitarian dimension. It is now obvious to everyone that the Black Sea humanitarian corridor is being used by the Ukrainian side for military sabotage purposes,” Nebenzia said, referring to Saturday’s drone attack on Sevastopol.
Russia “cannot guarantee the safety of civilian ships participating in the Black Sea initiative,” Nebenzia added, as “we do not know what other terrorist attacks Kiev is preparing with the support of its Western sponsors.” “Decisions and measures taken without our participation are not binding on us,” Nebenzia told the UN. Moscow “cannot allow ships to pass without our inspection and will be forced to take independent measures” to inspect ships authorized by the JCC without Russian approval.
“Statements by our Western according to which our steps allegedly pose a threat to food security, are nothing more than another attempt to shift responsibilities in order to “cover up” for the Kiev regime, whose crimes the Western curators eagerly forgive. Fact is that it is the Kiev authorities and not Russia who jeopardizes the functioning of the humanitarian corridor, while showing complete disdain for any agreements, even if those were made under the UN auspices.
When Washington and Brussels hypocritically blame Russia for “provoking global hunger”, they fail to mention that their sanctions impede not only Russian agricultural exports, (30 million tonnes of food and 25 million tonnes of fertilizers until the end of the year), but also our free deliveries (500 000 tonnes of grain and 286 tonnes of fertilizers) to the countries in need.
Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Moscow would continue to support African nations despite halting its compliance with the pact.
Russia halted its compliance with the pact on Saturday, after Kiev launched a major drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels involved in securing safe passage for agricultural cargo from Ukrainian ports.
On Sunday, after studying the wreckage of the unmanned combat vehicles, the Russian Defense Ministry said that those behind the attack made active use of the UN-brokered grain corridor. – Herald Correspondent