Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the plenary session of the First Eurasian Economic Forum in Bishkek, via a video link from Moscow, Russia, on May 26, 2022. Sputnik / Mikhail Metzel / Pool via REUTERS
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May 28 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin told leaders of France and Germany in a phone call on Saturday that Russia was ready to discuss ways to make it possible for Ukraine to resume grain shipments from Black Sea ports. said the Kremlin.
Russia and Ukraine account for almost a third of the world’s wheat supplies, while Russia is also a global exporter of key fertilizers and Ukraine is a major exporter of corn and sunflower oil.
“For its part, Russia is ready to help find options for the unhindered export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports,” the Kremlin said.
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He also told French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Russia was ready to increase its exports of fertilizers and agricultural products if sanctions against it were lifted, a demand it has raised in talks with leaders. Italians and Austrians in recent days. .
Ukraine and Western countries have accused Russia of fueling the food crisis created by its invasion of Ukraine, which has pushed up the prices of cereals, cooking oils, fuel and fertilizers.
Russia has blamed Western sanctions on Ukraine and the mining of Ukrainian ports.
The Kremlin said Putin also said Russia was ready to resume talks with Ukraine.
“Special attention was paid to the state of negotiations that are frozen due to Kyiv. President Vladimir Putin confirmed the opening of the Russian side to resume dialogue,” he said.
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Reuters report; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Nick Macfie
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