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Kremlin says sanctions must be lifted for Russian grain to reach markets
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LONDON (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Western sanctions against Moscow must be lifted before Russian grain could be delivered to international markets.
LONDON (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Western sanctions against Moscow must be lifted before Russian grain could be delivered to international markets.
“President (Vladimir) Putin said that in order for Russian grain volumes to be delivered to international markets, direct and indirect sanctions against Russia must be lifted,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call.
He said the sanctions, which the West imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, were affecting shipping insurance, payments, and access to European ports.”
He added that “no substantive discussions” about lifting them were taking place.
Ukraine and Russia together account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies, while Russia is also a key fertilizer exporter and Ukraine a major supplier of corn and sunflower oil.
Ukraine’s grain exports have been halted by a Russian blockade of its Black Sea ports, but Moscow blames the situation on Ukraine’s failure to clear mines from the ports.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday the onus was on Ukraine to solve the issues with grain shipments by de-mining the approaches to its ports, and that Moscow needed to take no action because it had already made the necessary commitments.
Peskov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov both alleged that Ukrainian grain exports make up a mere fraction of the global market.
“As far as we know, there is much less grain than the Ukrainians say,” Peskov said. “There is no need to exaggerate the importance of these grain reserves from the point of view of their impact on international markets.”
Lavrov accused the West of inflating the issue related to Ukrainian grain exports into a “global catastrophe”.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Ukraine is the fifth largest wheat exporter in the world, with a global market share of 10% in recent years.
Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine has fuelled surging prices for grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertilizer.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Grain export refers to the sale and shipment of grain products, such as wheat or corn, from one country to another. This process is crucial for global food supply and trade.
Shipping insurance protects against financial loss during the transportation of goods. It covers damages or losses incurred while goods are in transit, ensuring that businesses can recover costs.
Fertilizer is a chemical or natural substance added to soil to enhance its fertility and promote plant growth. It provides essential nutrients that crops need to thrive.
A blockade is an act of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving. In the context of trade, it restricts the flow of products and can impact economies.
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