2023-07-14 08:27:44
After Putin threatened to suspend it, the grain agreement is the focus of European international talks
After Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted, Thursday, that his country might suspend its participation in the Ukrainian grain export agreement through the Black Sea; Also Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the agreement, which expires on July 17, is the focus of a meeting between the United Nations and the European Union in southern Brussels on Friday.
The meeting, which began Thursday and ends Friday in La Hulpe, Belgium, comes while the Russian president said Thursday that “no Moscow’s requests were taken into account” during the negotiations to extend the Ukrainian grain export agreement, according to “Agence France Presse”.
Von der Leyen said, in the presence of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, that “the ball is in President Putin’s court,” considering that “Russia bears the responsibility to extend the agreement, otherwise the result will be global food insecurity.”
For his part, Guterres said that the partnership of the United Nations with the European Union is necessary “in order to rebuild a relationship of trust with the developing world,” adding that “multilateralism is important today more than ever, to establish peace, protect the planet and eradicate hunger,” stressing that “it is not We have one minute to lose.”
Russia announced last week that it saw “no reason” to extend the agreement, and complained of obstacles to the delivery of agricultural products.
A series of Russian attacks targeted, on Tuesday night – Wednesday, a grain terminal in the Odessa region in southern Ukraine, which includes 3 major grain export ports.
The “Grain Initiative in the Black Sea” was signed in July 2022 in Istanbul with Russia and Ukraine under the auspices of Turkey and the United Nations. It allowed the export of about 33 million tons of grain from Ukraine, despite the war.
And Anatolia quoted the Russian president as saying yesterday to Russia 24 channel that “there is some time to think about what to do,” especially since there are two days left until the expiration of the agreement to export grain from Ukrainian ports.
Putin added, “Russia will consider extending the grain deal, as there are two days left until its end.” He pointed out that “no Russian demand was met” in the agreement to export grain through Ukrainian ports, describing the situation as a “one-sided game”.
He added that Russia could extend the grain deal only when the promises made were kept.
And Putin continued: “We can suspend participation in this agreement. And if everyone confirms that all promises made will be fulfilled, let them do so, and then we will immediately join this agreement again.”
And he continued: “Russia is ready to wait until the implementation of the part of the agreement that interests it, but it will no longer be satisfied with the option of extension first, and fulfillment of promises later.” He went on to say, “First, the implementation of promises, and then our participation.”
He stated that the United Nations is trying sincerely to get Western countries to start implementing the terms of the grain agreement. He said he had not yet seen a letter sent to him by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding the extension of the agreement.
Putin denied allegations that Russia would be responsible for provoking the food crisis, and accused “rich” countries of emptying global food markets during the coronavirus pandemic because they fear shortages.
Regarding Ukraine’s membership in NATO, Putin said that it poses a threat to Russia’s security, pointing out that accession “will not improve the security of Ukraine itself.”
“Strictly speaking, one of the reasons for the special military operation is the threat of Ukraine joining NATO. I am sure that this will not increase the security of Ukraine itself. In general, this will make the world more vulnerable and lead to more tension in the international arena,” he explained.
And Putin concluded: “Every country has the right to ensure its security and choose the path to achieve this goal, as long as it does not pose threats to another country.”
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