Ukraine: Denies Putin’s claim that most grain exports go to EU countries

The Ukrainian government has countered accusations by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who claimed earlier today that Ukraine’s grain exports are mainly directed to European Union countries. Kyiv highlights that 2/3 of the cargoes were sent to African and Asian countries.

“In total, two-thirds of the ships (with Ukrainian grain) were destined for countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, adding that exports contributed to the reduction in food prices.

“The lies of the Russians that we send Ukrainian grain only to Europe do not correspond to reality,” the head of Ukrainian diplomacy said, naming among others China, Egypt, Iran, India, Somalia and Libya as some of the countries who received grain from Ukraine.

“The only reason for the worsening of the global food crisis this year was and remains the barbaric war launched by Russia, blocking Ukrainian ports and deliberately destroying infrastructure,” noted the Ukrainian minister.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed today that Ukrainian grain exports were mainly going to EU member states rather than poorer countries, citing the risk of a “humanitarian catastrophe”.

After an agreement was reached last July between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by Turkey and under the auspices of the UN, about 100 ships loaded with more than two million tons of grain and other agricultural products have sailed from Ukrainian ports, according to the French Agency (AFP) citing information from the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

RES-EMP

Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.