By John Ikani
Russian President Vladimir Putin made an announcement on Wednesday, stating that Moscow would reconsider rejoining the Ukraine grain deal only if their demands were entirely met.
This marks the first time Putin addressed the issue since Moscow’s recent exit from the landmark deal, which previously facilitated safe passage for cargo ships from Black Sea ports.
The grain deal, previously brokered by the UN and Turkey, has played a vital role in enabling the export of over 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain in the past year.
However, with Moscow’s exit from the agreement, the future of grain trade in the region remains uncertain.
During a government meeting, Putin expressed his views, stating, “The continuation of the grain deal in its current form has lost all meaning.”
He further asserted that if Russia’s initial principles for participation in the deal were fully recognized and fulfilled, then they would entertain the possibility of rejoining.
One of the primary conditions he mentioned was the “withdrawal of sanctions on supplies of Russian grain and fertilizers to world markets.”
For several months, Moscow had raised complaints about the non-observance of a related agreement that allowed the export of Russian food and fertilizers.
According to Putin, Russia demonstrated remarkable patience by extending the deal multiple times.
However, he accused Western countries of misusing the agreement for “political blackmail,” rather than providing genuine assistance to countries in need.
He accused the West of transforming the grain deal into a tool to benefit transnational corporations and speculators in the global grain market.
Shortly after Putin’s remarks, the Russian military warned that any vessel shipping grains from Ukrainian Black Sea ports will be treated as threats due to Ukraine’s military activities in those waters.
