Borrell: Russia seeks to make countries dependent on its grain

Russia, offering grain at reduced prices to developing countries, makes them dependent on its products. This statement was made by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, transmits Reuters, citing a letter from the politician sent to developing countries and members of the G20.

“While the world is dealing with supply disruptions and rising prices, Russia is turning to vulnerable countries with bilateral offers of grain supplies at reduced prices, pretending to solve a problem it has created,” the letter says.

Borrell called such actions “the cynical policy of the deliberate use of food as a weapon”. This creates “new dependencies,” he says, while exacerbating global food insecurity.

The politician noted that the EU “made every effort” so that the sanctions did not affect the food security of other countries. He recalled that no restrictions were imposed on the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers.

On July 17, Russia left the Black Sea Initiative, which was signed on July 22, 2022 by representatives of Turkey, the UN, Russia and Ukraine. The Kremlin explained this by the failure to fulfill the second part of the agreement, which concerns, among other things, the lifting of restrictions on the supply of Russian products. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that the deal could be resumed if Russia’s requirements were met.

On the eve of August 2, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov declaredthat Russia is “ready to immediately return” to the grain deal as soon as it is implemented in terms of Russian conditions.

Speaking at the plenary session of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg on July 27, Putin declaredthat the Russian Federation is ready to supply a number of African countries with 25,000–50,000 tons of grain free of charge in the next three to four months.