photo credit: Yonhap News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will not block the operation of vessels carrying grain produced in Ukraine.
Putin said in an interview with Russian state media, Rossiya 1IV, that he would guarantee exports using Russian-occupied ports, including Mariupol, as reported by Russian Tass news agency.
It is noteworthy that this remark comes amid growing criticism that Russia has blocked export routes from Ukraine, one of the world’s largest granaries, causing global grain prices to rise, and at the same time, food problems in underdeveloped countries are getting serious.
Putin also mentioned his ally Belarus, adding that Ukraine’s grain could be exported to other countries via land via Belarus.
However, it is unclear whether Putin’s position will become a reality.
Ukraine is highly likely not to choose to export through Russian-occupied territories because Ukraine is in the position that it cannot recognize all Russian-occupied territories, including Mariupol.
Exporting through Belarus, which borders northern Ukraine, is also difficult.
Belarus is already under sanctions from the West for helping Russia invade Ukraine, which limits exports.
Although President Putin has repeatedly asserted that strong economic sanctions against Russia and Belarus are exacerbating the global food problem, Western powers, including the United States, have no intention of easing sanctions, saying that Putin’s claims are mere sophistry. making it clear