Putin claims Russia does not block Ukrainian grain exports; accuses West of 'bluster'

Russia does t obstruct grain export from Ukraine and it can be done through ports in Black Sea and neighbouring nations, said Russian President Vlimir Putin. In an interview with Rossiya-1 TV Channel, Kremlin leer declared that Russian forces do t “put obstacles” to Ukrainian grain exports. He accused West of “bluster” by claiming that Moscow was preventing exports from Ukraine. 

As Russia-Ukraine war passed grim milestone of 100 days, Ukrainian authorities blamed Russia for ‘blocking’ exports and claimed that Putin’s forces have alrey stolen half a million tons of grain. Alarmed over possible food short, several Western nations have urged Moscow to cease its military offensive. Moreover, United Nations (UN) chief Martin Griffiths was in Russia on Thursday and Friday to discuss clearance of pass to grain export. 

"As regards Ukrainian grain exports, we do t put obstacles to that," Putin said in televised interview.

Russian President also mentioned that re are several ways of exporting grain, such as via ports controlled by Ukraine after mine clearance, via Berdyansk and Mariupol, via Danube River and Romania, Hungary and Poland, and simplest way is through Belarus, as per report. 

He also said that ports under Kyiv’s control, especially Odesa, could also be used while calling for waters around Ukrainian-held ports to be “cleared” of mines by Ukraine. Putin even underscored that Ukrainian side was playing role of army’s ‘blocking detachments’.

Russian President said, "But simplest, easiest, cheapest would be exported via Belarus, from re one can go to Baltic ports, n to Baltic Sea and n anywhere in world”. However, Kremlin leer said any export via Belarus would be conditional on “lifting of sanctions” by West against Minsk, a staunch ally of Moscow. 

UN trying to broker ‘pack deal’ with Russia 

While UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is trying to broker a “pack deal” to resume Ukrainian food exports and Russian food and fertilizer exports, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric ted that “ situation remains fluid”. Dujarric said, “ Secretary‑General, and two main people he has tasked to work on this, Rebecca Grynspan and Martin Griffiths - we will do and go anywhere we need to go to push this project forward.”

Im: AP/Unsplash