President Vladimir Putin denies that Russia is blocking grain exports from Ukrainian ports, calling it a “bluff from the West.”
Putin made the remarks on Russian television on Friday evening. There he claims that the best way to get the grain out is to send it via Belarus, provided sanctions against the country are lifted, the news agency reports. Reuters.
– Western countries accuse Russia of covering up its own mistakes
In a televised broadcast, Putin called reports that Russia was preventing Ukraine from exporting wheat a “bluff.” He accused Western countries of covering up their own mistakes by accusing Russia of a global food crisis.
The president also suggested that Ukrainian grain could be shipped from the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov. Both cities are under Russian control. He also said that ports under Ukrainian control, including Odesa, could be used as shipping ports.
“But then Ukraine will have to clear its waters of mines,” Putin said.
Russia has mined part of the Black Sea
According to Western intelligence, Russia has been mining parts of the Black Sea.
Russian troops have taken control of most of Ukraine’s coastline, and Russian naval vessels have blocked access to many Ukrainian ports.
Ukraine is one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but because of the war and Russia’s blockade of the country’s ports, exports of these goods have stopped.
This has led to a sharp rise in prices for grains and food on world markets.
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