- Ukraine is a major exporter of grain, particularly corn and wheat.
- Its production has been stifled by Moscow’s military offensive, causing prices to skyrocket.
- Russia cannot sell its crops and fertilizers internationally because of Western sanctions.
President Vladimir Putin denied Thursday that Russia was to blame for a looming global food crisis caused by the Ukraine conflict.
Ukraine, a major exporter of grain, particularly corn and wheat, has seen its production stifled as a result of Moscow’s military offensive, causing prices to skyrocket and fears of food shortages, which will disproportionately affect the poorest countries.
“We have not put any restrictions on the export of fertilizers, nor on the export of food products,” Putin said as he welcomed Indonesian leader Joko Widodo, whose country holds the G20 presidency, to the Kremlin.
Moscow does “not hinder the export of Ukrainian wheat,” Putin said, adding that Russia is “in constant contact” with the UN agency in charge of the issue.
Putin instead blamed Western sanctions imposed on Russia. He said that by targeting the owners of fertilizer companies, Western sanctions have “created conditions that made it much more difficult” to deliver certain products internationally.
Moscow says it would allow Ukrainian ships loaded with food products to leave if the Ukrainian military demined its ports, an option rejected by Kyiv, which fears for the safety of its Black Sea coast.
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