Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that allegations that Russia is blocking grain exports from Ukrainian ports are “bluff”. According to him, Moscow is ready to guarantee unhindered grain exports from Ukrainian ports if it clears mines from its waters. In this case, Russia promises not to use demining to “make some kind of attack from the sea.”
How to export grain
The President of the Russian Federation announced several ways to export grain from the territory of Ukraine.
Firstly, this can be done through ports controlled by Ukraine, especially Odessa.
“We did not mine the approaches to the port. [Одессы], Ukraine mined. Let them clear the mines and please let the grain ships leave the ports. “We guarantee their smooth passage into international waters,” said Putin.
He also noted that Russia could organize grain exports to Ukraine through Berdyansk and Mariupol under its control, without putting forward any conditions. The President promised that Russia will ensure the entry of foreign ships and their movement in any direction in the Azov and Black Sea.
Third, Kyiv can use the land routes to Poland, Hungary or Romania.
“Finally, the simplest thing is to export through the territory of Belarus. The easiest and cheapest, because from there immediately to the ports of the Baltic States, the Baltic Sea and anywhere in the world. But for this, sanctions from Belarus need to be lifted.– said the President of the Russian Federation.
Little to solve the crisis
According to the president, Ukrainian grain exports cannot solve the food problem, because the potential volume of wheat exports from Ukraine is only 0.5% of world food production.
“Now we are told that Ukraine is ready to export 20 million tons. How much is 20 million tons – 800 million tons – compared to what is produced in the world? This is 2.5%. However, starting from the fact that wheat makes up only 20% of the total food supply in the world, this means that 20 million tons of Ukrainian wheat is 0.5%. Nothing,” Putin stressed.
Russia plans to export 37 million tons of grain this agricultural year and 50 million tons next year.
Sanctions exacerbate the problem
Putin expressed the view that Western sanctions against Russia are exacerbating the current crisis, as the country is not only the largest exporter of food but also fertilizers, occupying 25% of the global market.
In terms of potash fertilizers, Russia and Belarus account for 45% of the world market. This is a huge amount,” he said.
“Prices will just go up, that’s all. “This is absolutely narrow-minded, I would say wrong, a stupid policy that leads to a dead end,” he said.
He pointed out that the problems in the global food market began in February 2020 in connection with the pandemic.
“Yes, of course, we are now seeing attempts to shift responsibility for what is happening. <…> to Russia. “I must say, as our people say, it is an attempt to shift these issues from a sore head to a healthy one,” he said.
According to him, the rise in food prices is connected, among other things, with the policy of the US authorities, which organized an “unprecedented printing business” to deal with the consequences of the pandemic. money supply by 38.6%why $5.9 trillion.
Putin cited European energy policies as another reason, including disdain for traditional energy, a lack of investment in the energy sector, and Moscow’s refusal to maintain long-term gas contracts despite demands.
According to the President, the increase in the cost of gas led to an increase in fertilizer prices, which led to the closure of a number of enterprises.
“We warned about this, and it has nothing to do with any Russian military operation in Donbass, it has nothing to do with it,” Putin said.
“One thing clings to another, and Russia has absolutely nothing to do with it. “Our partners have made a lot of mistakes themselves, and now they are looking for someone to blame, and of course, Russia is the most suitable candidate for this,” he said.
Minsk will help grain export
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and UN Secretary-General António Guterres discussed the issue of grain exports from Ukraine over the phone.
Lukashenka announced that Minsk is ready to supply grain through the territory of Belarus to the ports of Germany, Poland, the Baltic states and Russia, provided that Belarusian goods can also be loaded there.
He suggested holding talks on this issue with the participation of representatives of Belarus, Ukraine and the Baltic states. After the meeting, Guterres requested a break for a few days to discuss the proposals with the authorities of the states concerned.
Creating a safe corridor
It was previously reported in the Turkish media that Moscow, Ankara, Kyiv and the UN prepared a roadmap for the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports. According to Anadolu Agency, the roadmap will ensure the functioning of the “grain corridor” under the auspices of the world organization.
According to this plan, the Black Sea water area will be neutralized and grain reserves will be able to be transported to foreign markets.
Commenting on the initiative, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance welcomes “any UN-coordinated effort” to extract grain from Ukraine by land or sea.