June 13 () –
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Tuesday the possibility that Moscow will not approve a new extension of the agreement for the export of grains and cereals from Ukrainian ports, thus putting an end to one of the main agreements between Russia and Ukraine since the outbreak of the conflict.
According to the Russian president, the pact’s main objective was to supply the countries most in need with agricultural products produced or transported from Ukraine, something that, according to him, is not being fulfilled. “We have been deceived once again,” he denounced.
“Therefore, now we are thinking about how we can get out of this so-called grain agreement (…) In addition, the corridors through which the ships pass are constantly used by the enemy to launch naval drones,” added President Putin, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
This has been the occasion in which the Russian president has been clearer about the future of this pact, which seems close to its end. However, Putin has stressed that Moscow has already drawn up a plan to continue supporting those nations most in need and replace Ukrainian supplies free of charge.
“The amount of cereals that the poorest countries have received is little more than three percent. We are willing to supply it to the poorest countries for free,” said the Russian head of state, who, however, has acknowledged that he has not yet has discussed this matter with the leaders of the affected countries.
The Russian authorities have repeatedly warned in recent weeks that, given the situation, it is more than likely that Moscow will disassociate itself from the agreement, signed in July last year, a few weeks after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, with the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations.
Moscow has argued for not signing a new extension that only the part of the agreement that benefits Kiev is being complied with, and has put on the table several demands related to the agricultural sector and the Toliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline, recently sabotaged in the stretch that passes through Kherson.
