Blinken: failure to extend grain deal would threaten developing countries
The United States is interested in extending the “grain deal” and believes that Moscow’s refusal to do so will threaten developing countries, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Friday.
“It is critical that we expand and extend the grain initiative. Russia is once again threatening to end it on 18 July. If Moscow carries out its threats, developing countries, including in the region, will have to pay a price. This will lead to higher food prices as well as food shortages,” Blinken said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that Russia was considering suspending its participation in the grain deal and returning to it when promised conditions on Russia were met, and that the Russian side would think about extending it, and that there was no final decision yet.
Putin pointed out in early September last year that the West was exporting most Ukrainian grain to its own states rather than to needy countries in Africa. He said that Moscow was ready to supply the poorest countries with the entire volume of grain that was intended for them under the grain deal free of charge.
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