Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed on the 7th (local time) that he is considering measures to restrict the countries importing Ukrainian grain exported through the Black Sea.
According to major foreign media, in his keynote speech at the 7th Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok, Russia, President Putin stated, "Most of the Ukrainian grain exported from the Black Sea is going to European Union (EU) countries rather than African countries that are in dire need of assistance," adding, "This could trigger an unexpected humanitarian disaster."
He said, "Out of 87 ships that departed carrying grain from Ukraine, only two went to countries that truly need help," and "The grain received by these countries amounts to only 60,000 tons, which is 3% of the total exported grain volume of 2 million tons." He further stated, "Russia and developing countries have been deceived," and announced that he would discuss with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an about revising the agreement to limit the countries that can receive grain shipments.
Earlier, on the previous day, Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, indicated that the agreement to resume Ukrainian and Russian grain exports through the Black Sea might not be extended after its November deadline. This suggested that Russia could refuse to extend the agreement. If Russia withdraws, the route for Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea would be blocked again, potentially causing a resurgence of the international food crisis.
Since February, when Ukraine and Russia, the world's 3rd and 4th largest grain exporters, started their war, the global food market has faced a crisis. The Russian invasion led to the blockade of the Black Sea, blocking Ukrainian agricultural exports, and Western sanctions disrupted Russian grain and fertilizer exports. Subsequently, on July 22, through mediation by the United Nations and T?rkiye, Russia and Ukraine agreed to resume food exports via the Black Sea.
An agreement was reached to ensure the safety of the Black Sea route essential for Ukrainian grain exports, and a four-party Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was established in Istanbul, T?rkiye, to oversee this. The US and EU sanctions on Russia were also decided not to apply to financial, insurance, and transportation sectors related to Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports.
According to the agreement, Ukraine resumed grain exports through the Black Sea on the 1st of last month by dispatching a ship carrying 26,000 tons of corn. Efforts to lift restrictions on Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports have reportedly been slow due to the complex structure of sanctions against Russia.
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