The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin yesterday declared that the West must remove restrictions on exports of Russian grain in the interest of world trade.
Speaking in Tehran after talks with the presidents of Iran and Turkey, Putin told reporters that; ‘We will facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain, but we are proceeding from the fact that all restrictions related to possible deliveries for the export of Russian grain will be lifted’.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine has hampered shipments from one of the world’s biggest exporters of wheat and other grain, sparking fears of global food shortages.
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‘As you know, Americans have lifted — essentially lifted — restrictions on the supply of Russian fertilizers to the world markets,’ Putin said.
‘If they sincerely want to improve the situation on the international food markets, I hope the same will happen with the supply of Russian grain for export.’
Cereal prices in Africa, the world’s poorest continent, have surged because of the slump in exports from Ukraine, sharpening the impact of conflict and climate change and sparking fears of social unrest.
The United Nations has said Africa faces an ‘unprecedented’ crisis caused by the conflict.
Putin had a fortnight ago warned of possible ‘catastrophic consequences’ of Western sanctions on the global energy market stressing that the moves by the West will only sink them further.
‘Sanctions restrictions on Russia will bring far bigger losses for the countries that impose the’ Putin told a televised government meeting in an argument he is fond of using.
‘Continuing to use the politics of sanctions can lead to even more serious, without exaggeration — catastrophic — consequences on the world energy market.’
Africa Today News, New York reports that Western countries have continued to slam Moscow with a barrage of international sanctions following Putin’s decision to launch his military campaign in Ukraine on February 24.