Charles Michel calls Russia’s proposal to supply 1 million tons of grain to African countries “cynical”

The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, called Russia’s proposal to supply 1 million tons of grain to African countries “cynical,” DW reports.

“More than 250 million people around the world are experiencing acute food shortages. And the Kremlin is depriving them of much-needed food by deliberately attacking Ukrainian ports,” the head of the European Council said before the G20 summit in India on September 9-10.

According to Charles Michel, it is “scandalous” that Russia is blocking and attacking Ukraine’s ports after it has withdrawn from the grain deal, and Moscow’s offer to supply 1 million tons of grain to Africa is “cynical.”

Thanks to the UN grain deal suspended by the Kremlin, 30-32 million tons of grain have been supplied to the markets, “especially to developing countries,” and 41 million tons of grain have been delivered through the EU’s solidarity corridors, the head of the European Council emphasized.

Earlier, Charles Michel said that the grain deal would be at the center of the G20 summit. It is difficult to predict whether the G20 leaders will reach a consensus on the communiqué.

China has made it clear that President Xi Jinping will skip the G-20 summit for the first time. Beijing will be represented by Prime Minister Li Keqiang instead. And Russia will be represented by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov instead of Putin.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry tried to get an invitation to the G20 summit. Our country wanted to join the event because economic issues will be discussed there.

Tags: Russia, grain, war