Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Monday that Russia was nearing a deal that would secure free grains for six African countries after the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal collapsed in July.
After pulling out of the deal, which aimed to ensure safe grain exports via the Black Sea, Putin has been eager to allay African fears about the impact of the deal’s collapse on food security.
Speaking at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin said “we are close to completing agreements with six African states.”
He stated that the country would supply the grains and carry out logistics free of charge, adding that deliveries “would begin in the next couple of weeks”.
Ukraine and Russia have both announced plans to ship grain outside of the grain pact, which the UN has claimed is critical to world food security.
Putin stated that his administration was ready to return to the deal “as soon” as restrictions on its own exports were lifted.
“We will be ready to consider the possibility of reviving the grain deal,” he said.
“And we will do it as soon as all the agreements on lifting restrictions on Russian agricultural exports are fully implemented,” he added.
Russia has already opposed the agreement, claiming that the West is imposing indirect limits on its grain and fertilizer exports by restricting access to global financial networks and insurance.
Turkey wants both sides to return to the deal and use it as the foundation for larger peace discussions.
