grain deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is considering the option of suspending participation in the grain deal until all conditions are met.
“As one of the options: first extension, then not fulfillment of promises, but first fulfillment of promises and then our participation. I wanted to say. We may suspend our participation in this transaction.”
“If everyone once again says that all the promises made to us will be fulfilled, let them fulfill that promise, and we will immediately rejoin this agreement,” added the politician.
According to the Russian leader, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the organization’s staff “sincerely try to ensure that the terms of the agreement are met, but are not successful.”
A little later in the Kremlin clarifiedHe said that the final decision on the suspension of the Russian Federation’s participation in the grain agreement has not yet been made. At the same time, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov emphasized that at the moment “there is neither hope nor reason for its extension”.
The grain deal expires on Monday, July 17. The agreement was signed on July 22, 2022 by representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN. It includes the export of Ukrainian grain, food and fertilizer across the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa.
Causes of SVR
Putin reiterated that one of the reasons for Russia’s military operation in Ukraine was the country’s threat to join NATO. The eastward expansion of the alliance poses a threat to the security of the Russian Federation.
“Actually, one of the reasons for the special military operation is the threat of Ukraine joining NATO,” said the President.
Putin said Ukraine’s NATO membership would “make the world much more vulnerable and cause additional tension in the international arena”.
Guarantees to Ukraine
The politician also said that Kiev has no objection to discussing security guarantees, only Moscow is subject to security guarantees.
“Russia is not against discussing security guarantees for Ukraine, not at the expense of its own security,” he said.
“There is nothing unusual for us in what has been announced both in NATO and in the G7. We are absolutely not against such questions,” Putin stressed.
“Nothing Critical”
Putin also admitted in an interview that missiles supplied to Ukraine hurt the Russian side, but “nothing critical”.
“Yes, they do damage, but nothing critical happens in the war zone where these missiles are used,” said the President.
At the same time, Moscow sees “how much hope is placed” on the supply of long-range missiles.