The President of Russia recalled the conditions for returning to the grain deal

Russia may return to the grain deal if its conditions are met, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled his position during a video address to the participants of the BRICS Business Forum in South Africa.

Putin explained that Russia is in favor of “closer cooperation” within the BRICS framework for the uninterrupted supply of energy and food resources to world markets.

According to him, the illegitimate sanctions practice, the illegal freezing of assets of sovereign states and the violation of all basic norms and rules of free trade and economic life have a negative impact on the international economic situation. As a direct consequence, resource scarcity and rising food prices are affecting the most vulnerable poor countries in the first place.

Putin stressed that despite the sanctions, Russian grain exports to Africa in 2022 amounted to 11.5 million tons, and in the first six months of 2023 – almost 10 million.

At the same time, as part of the so-called grain deal, 32.8 million cargoes were exported from Ukraine. More than 70% of these went to high- and upper-middle-income countries, and only 3% came from the least developed countries.

“None of the conditions of the so-called deal regarding the withdrawal from sanctions of Russian exports of grain and fertilizers to world markets have been implemented. Obligations to Russia in this regard were simply ignored,” the Russian president said.

According to the president, Moscow is ready to return to the deal, but only “in the event of the actual fulfillment of all obligations to the Russian side.”

The BRICS summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is being held in Johannesburg in person for the first time in three years. It was reported that Putin will speak via video link, and in person Russia will be represented by a delegation led by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.