Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to consult with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the possible introduction of restrictions on the export of grain from Ukraine. His words at the WEF are quoted by Interfax.
Putin claims that Russia, together with Turkey, allegedly did everything to export Ukrainian grain from the ports. At the same time, he was indignant that Ukraine supplies grain to the EU:
“If we exclude Turkey as an intermediary country, then practically all the grain exported from Ukraine is sent not to the developing poorest countries, but to the EU countries.”
The President added that "only two ships out of eighty-seven" were loaded under the UN World Food Program and promised to think about restrictions on the export of products.
“Maybe we should think about how to limit the direction of the export of grain and trade food along this route? I will certainly consult on this issue with the President of Turkey, Mr. Erdogan.”
Erdogan and Putin may discuss a "product deal" in Samarkand on the sidelines of the SCO summit, which will be held on September 15-16, RIA Novosti reports , citing a diplomatic source.
Bloomberg previously found that some of Russia's leading grain exporters are losing market share as foreign buyers, insurers and shippers shun government-backed and sanctioned companies.
An agreement on the export of grain from Ukrainian ports was signed by Moscow and Kiev on July 22 in Istanbul with the participation of the UN. Grain will be delivered from three ports – Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. The day after the signing of the treaty, Odessa was subjected to rocket fire, as a result of which a fire broke out in the local port.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, since the beginning of the war, Russia has stolen and exported hundreds of thousands of tons of Ukrainian grain, part of the stolen grain is bought by Turkey. Also, a significant part of the stolen grain was transported across the Mediterranean on dry cargo ships under Russian flags to Syria, from where the grain can be smuggled to the countries of the Middle East.