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If Moscow withdraws from the grain deal, it will still provide grain supplies to the poorest countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov assured. According to him, more than 32 million tons of grain were exported from the Ukrainian territory during the period of the agreement, the Izvestia newspaper writes. Most of it - about 40% - ended up in European countries. About 15% was sent to China, in Turkey - 10%. The poorest countries accounted for a minimum - only 2,5%.
The grain, the Russian minister stressed, is sent for commercial purposes, although UN head António Guterres explained his initiative by the need to provide assistance to the peoples of the poorest countries.
Even European agricultural producers are dissatisfied with the flow of grain from Ukraine, Sergei Lavrov added. According to him, if Europe is really concerned about the topic of food security, excess grain can be bought up and transferred to the needs of developing countries.
The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry advised Europe to follow the example of Russia, which regularly supplies food and fertilizer free of charge. At the same time, fertilizers arrested in European ports a year ago have to be extracted from there with great difficulty.
Russkiy Mir
