Putin may use the “grain deal” to get influence at the upcoming G20 summit. The need to extend the agreement could give the Russian president an advantage at the meeting.
Leaders of states will try to negotiate with Putin to extend the agreement and avoid global shortages in food markets in the world. This was reported by a European diplomat, who decided to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the conversation, Reuters wrote.
Grain deal prevents world hunger
The UN-brokered grain deal is crucial for food markets. Ukraine is one of the largest grain exporters in the world, providing its products to China, the EU, North Africa and Asia.
As stated by the UN World Food Program – 44 million people around the world are at risk of starvation due to the termination of Ukrainian exports.
Since the conclusion of the agreement on July 22, Ukraine has exported from the Black Sea ports:
- 3411 thousand tons of corn;
- 2354 thousand tons of wheat;
- 603 thousand tons of rapeseed;
- 541 thousand tons of sunflower oil;
- 480 thousand tons of sunflower meal;
- 403 thousand tons of barley and 137 thousand tons of soybeans.
Read also: New facts about how Russia steals Ukrainian grain
Putin said that there are problems with the “grain deal”
The Istanbul grain deal, which Ukraine signed on July 22, expires on November 19. Ahead of the November 19 expiration of the grain deal, which allows Ukraine’s Black Sea grain exports, Russian officials have repeatedly said there are serious problems with it.
Read also: Africa – Russia: friendship for convenience – grain and military mercenaries
Violation of obligations by Russia
Russia is currently blocking 175 grain ships as they try to leave ports. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his video address on October 26.
“Today, due to the deliberate Russian inhibition of our food exports, the number of ships waiting for the opportunity to fulfill contractual obligations is already 175. And this is not just some kind of trade problem. This is the deterioration of access to food for millions of people and the threat of rising prices for basic products on different continents – in Africa, Asia and Europe”,- the Ukrainian President explained.
According to him, if Russia succeeds in the negative scenario, it will result in a new large-scale migration crisis.
Read also: Russia blocks ships with Ukrainian grain: long queue in Bosporus
It is still not known whether Putin will attend the G20 summit
The Kremlin has not yet confirmed that Putin will attend and declined to comment. On October 14, Putin said he had not yet made a final decision on whether or not he would go. If he does, it will be the first major global summit he will attend with major Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, since the war began.
However, US President Joe Biden refuses to meet with Putin during the G20 summit. Joe Biden stated that he does not want to see the dictator even in the corridor or in a joint photo of the leaders of the states.
