(Moscow) President Vladimir Putin assured on Wednesday that Russia was ready to return to the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports if its demands are carried out “in full”, otherwise its extension “no longer makes sense” .
“We will consider the possibility of returning (to the agreement), but on one condition: that all the principles of Russia’s participation in this agreement are taken into account and carried out without exception and in their entirety,” Putin said. during a government meeting broadcast on television.
Russia decided this week not to extend the deal to allow Ukrainian grain exports after months of criticism of the text, with Moscow saying its own supplies of agricultural products and fertilizers are hampered by the sanctions.
It also calls for Russian banks and financial institutions to be reconnected to the SWIFT international banking system, of which they were deprived after the start of the offensive in Ukraine in 2022.
The agricultural sector of Russia, one of the world’s largest grain exporters along with Ukraine, also faces a lack of spare parts for machinery and industry, as well as ship insurance problems. .
Moscow is finally calling for the resumption of operation of the gigantic pipeline linking the Russian city of Togliatti to the Ukrainian port of Odessa used for the export of ammonia, the key component of fertilizers. This tube, out of service since the conflict, was the victim of an explosion attributed to Kyiv by Moscow in June.
“As soon as (these conditions) are met, we will immediately return to this agreement,” insisted Mr. Putin, accusing the West of having “shamelessly profited” from grain exports from Ukraine.
“Instead of helping the countries that really need it, the West has used the grain agreement for political blackmail and made it a tool for the enrichment of multinationals, speculators on the world market” , he accused.
According to him, the cereal agreement has caused losses amounting to 1.2 billion dollars among Russian farmers and a drop in the profitability of exports.
“Our country is able to replace Ukrainian grain both commercially and free of charge,” Putin continued, predicting a “record harvest” this year.