Putin accuses EU of blocking free fertilizer for Africa

Russian President Putin accuses the EU countries of blocking shipment of 300 million kilos of Russian fertilizer as a gift to African countries. Putin points out that Moscow is adhering to the agreements on Ukrainian grain exports, but says that the sanctions of the Western countries continue to hinder Russian exports.

“The epitome of cynicism is that even our offer (…) to transfer 300,000 tons of Russian fertilizer blocked in European ports as a result of sanctions as a result of sanctions, free of charge to the countries that need it, remains unanswered,” Putin lamented during a statement on Tuesday. ceremony in Moscow. “Obviously, they don't want our companies to make money,” he said. 

Russia, the grain power of the world, cannot sell its production and fertilizers because of Western sanctions that mainly affect the financial and logistics sector. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in 2021 Russia was the largest exporter of nitrogen fertilizers and the second largest supplier of potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. 

On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin again denounced "unlawful sanctions" taken by certain Western countries "to strengthen their position", which he said "have negative consequences for themselves", but also "for totally innocent states, first of all the developing countries and the poorest countries,” he said. 

The Kremlin disputes the agreements made in July. These statements come at a time when Moscow is increasingly challenging two agreements signed in Istanbul in July that allow the export of wheat and maize from Ukraine through the Black Sea ports, but also, in theory, exports from Moscow that are affected. by western sanctions. 

In particular, the Kremlin claims that most Ukrainian food products go to European countries, which Kiev denies. Russian criticism of the Istanbul deals raises fears that Ukrainian exports will again be hindered by the Russians.