Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Kremlin reports.
According to the Russian leader, the current global food supply problems are “caused by the erroneous economic and financial policy of Western countries, as well as the anti-Russian sanctions imposed by them.”
“Tensions on the global food market can be eased with increased supply of Russian fertiliser and agricultural produce, which, of course, will require the removal of the corresponding sanctions,” the Kremlin notes.
Putin added that Russia is ready to re-initiate talks with Ukraine.
Earlier this week, in a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Putin vowed to “make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis” if the West agrees to lift the “politically motivated” anti-Russian sanctions. The Russian leader specifically mentioned grain and fertiliser export.
A sharp drop in Ukrainian grain export has been recorded following the start of the Russian invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia had blocked 22 million tonnes of agricultural produce, cutting off practically all possibilities of export by sea.
Besides, Russia is “gradually stealing, exporting and trying to sell” Ukrainian produce, Zelensky added. In this regard, the UN warned that the current situation could lead to a global food crisis.
