Russia will substitute exports of Ukrainian grain to Africa, President Vladimir Putin stated on Monday, after Moscow exited a deal permitting their protected cargo.
“Russia will continue its energetic efforts to provide supplies of grain, food products, fertilizers and other goods to Africa,” Putin stated in an announcement printed on the Kremlin’s web site.
“I want to give assurances that our country is capable of replacing the Ukrainian grain both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis.”
Moscow’s army operation blocked Ukraine’s Black Sea ports with warships till a deal brokered by the UN and Turkey and signed in July 2022 allowed for the passage of vital grain shipments.
Earlier this month Russia exited the deal after complaining {that a} associated settlement on permitting the export of Russian meals and fertilizers had not been honored.
Moscow later stated it could contemplate cargo ships touring to Ukraine by way of the Black Sea as potential army targets.
The African Union has expressed “regret” over Moscow’s determination to finish the grain export deal.
Later this week Russia will host the second Russia-Africa Summit and Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, in response to the Kremlin.
Humanitarian teams say Africa is closely reliant on grain from Russia and Ukraine.
The grain deal enabled the export of greater than 32 million tons of Ukrainian grain over the past 12 months.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
