Ukrainian cereals: “The ball is in President Putin’s court”, according to Ursula von der Leyen
The deal on Ukrainian grain exports, which expires on July 17, is the focus of a meeting between the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) south of Brussels, the Commission President says European, Ursula von der Leyen.
This meeting, which takes place this Thursday and Friday in La Hulpe, comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled on Thursday that “not one” Russian demands had not been taken into account during the negotiations to extend the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain.
“The ball is in President Putin’s court”argued Ursula von der Leyen alongside UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. “Russia has a responsibility to extend the deal or else global food insecurity will be the consequence”she explained.
Mr. Guterres for his part underlined that the partnership of the UN with the EU was essential “to rebuild a relationship of trust with the developing world”.
“Multilateralism is more important than ever: bringing peace, protecting the planet, ending hunger”added the UN Secretary General. “We don’t have a minute to lose”he said.
Russia had said last week that it would not see ” no reason “ to extend this agreement, complaining of obstacles to its own deliveries of agricultural products.
During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, a series of Russian drone attacks targeted a grain terminal in the Odessa region, in southern Ukraine, which is home to three key ports for the export of grain.
Signed in July 2022 in Istanbul with Russia and Ukraine under the aegis of Turkey and the United Nations, the Black Sea Grains Initiative has enabled the export of nearly 33 million tonnes of grain from Ukraine despite the war