President Putin sets three conditions for resuming Black Sea grain deal

At a meeting with members of the government, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it makes no sense to continue the Black Sea grain agreement in the form it already exists. And that is why he opposes extending the agreement.

President Putin stressed that Russia does not need empty promises and ideas about connecting to the SWIFT system as part of the grain deal, but needs real action.

"All obstacles to Russian banks and financial institutions involved in the supply of food and fertilizers must be removed. Including their direct connection to the international payment system SWIFT. What we need is action, not promises," said President Putin.

Along with lifting the ban on Russian grain and fertilizers on the world market, it is necessary to lift the ban on the supply of spare parts and components for Russian agricultural machinery and fertilizer industry; resume food supply logistics activities, and ensure unhindered fertilizer supply.

And according to President Putin, the final basic condition for Russia to return to the agreement is to restore its original humanitarian nature.

"If all the conditions we outlined earlier were met, then there would be no story today. As soon as they were fulfilled, we would immediately return to the grain agreement," Russian President Putin stressed.

President Putin will consider the possibility of returning to the agreement, if all the principles of Russia's participation, without exception, are taken into account and implemented. Mr. Putin said that the failure to implement Russia's conditions in the agreement is an act of arrogance on the part of the West.

"It's pure arrogance and insolence. Promises and empty words. They just compromise themselves. The leadership of the UN Secretariat, which actually acts as a guarantor of the grain deal, has been weakened," President Putin said.

The Russian leader noted that the “so-called agreement” has been extended several times, most recently in May this year.

“We have extended the agreement time and time again, and simply shown the miracle of endurance and patience, tolerance,” Putin stressed.

According to him, Moscow expected that Western countries would finally begin to fully implement all the obligations and provisions, but in fact no one did. On the contrary, the West did everything possible to destroy the initiative, despite the sincere efforts of the UN.

"Instead of helping poor countries, the West used the grain deal for political blackmail, and in addition, turned it into a tool for the enrichment of transnational corporations," President Putin further explained.

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