Russia expects European Union to facilitate grain exports

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that Moscow hopes that the European Union’s measures on food safety will create conditions for unimpeded export of grain and fertilizers.

“A document published by the Council of the European Union announces plans to extend previous sanctions exemptions in an attempt to avoid a possible negative impact on global food and energy security. Unfortunately, we know that there is a big gap between the intentions declared by the European Union and the measures it takes,” Zakharova stressed.

In her opinion, “the short-sighted economic and energy policies of the West are the main cause of the rise in prices of agricultural products and hydrocarbons, along with the coronavirus pandemic.”

“We hope that the actions of the European Union in the field of food security will contribute to improve it and to create conditions for the unhindered export of cereals, fertilizers and components for their production,” he has sentenced.

Turkish authorities have reported earlier on Thursday that Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement on the export of grain from Ukrainian ports and that the signing of the pact will take place on Friday.