Putin accuses Europe of redirecting grain meant for poor countries under Black Sea deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused European countries of taking grain originally meant for impoverished nations under the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Speaking at a Kremlin meeting on Thursday, Putin responded to a fertilizer industry official’s remark that grain shipments were supposed to go to southern countries but “ended up going to Europe.”

Putin also criticized Europe’s refusal to use Russian fertilizers, warning it could reduce crop yields and raise fertilizer prices by up to 30%, citing U.S. experience as an example. Europe imports 17 million tons of fertilizers annually, including 5.5 million from Russia, and already faces some of the highest mineral fertilizer costs worldwide.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, launched in 2022, aimed to ensure Ukrainian grain exports through Black Sea ports while allowing Russia to resume agricultural exports and fertilizer deliveries. Putin said Western countries violated the agreement, exporting most of Ukraine’s grain to Europe while blocking Russian products.

Due to these breaches, Russia withdrew from the initiative in July 2023.

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