Putin: The Grain Export Agreement via the Black Sea Has Lost Its Meaning

Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated today, Monday, that "Russia has withdrawn from the grain export agreement via the Black Sea, which ensures the safe export of Ukrainian grain, because the agreement has lost its meaning." Putin stated in an article published on the Kremlin's website: "The continuation of the grain agreement has lost its meaning." He added: "I want to confirm that our country is capable of replacing Ukrainian grain commercially and for free, especially since we expect again a record harvest this year." Moscow has stated that its conditions for extending the agreement were ignored, and it withdrew last week from the agreement that allowed Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports a year ago, despite the war, to help alleviate a global food crisis.