Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry: Putin’s statistics on grain corridor are not true

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements about the volume of grain supplies from Ukraine to African countries are not true. This was announced by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko.

“Putin: Russia insists on the full implementation of the grain deal so that the products are not sent to rich countries. He also noted that a total of 45% of grain was delivered to European countries and only 3% to Africa.”

“Russia keeps trying to undermine the Black Sea Grain Initiative. These statistics are not true,” Nikolenko wrote on Facebook.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that since August 1, 2022, Ukraine has exported 25.1 million tons of agricultural products to 45 countries through the grain corridor: Africa – 2.9 million tons (11.6%); Asia – 12.1 million tons (48.2%); Europe – 10.1 million tons (40.2%).

“Russia is also well aware that part of the Ukrainian grain purchased by the “well-fed countries” of Europe is sent as humanitarian re-export to Africa and Asia. Therefore, the real statistics of exports to the African continent is even higher than 11.6%. Not to mention the fact that almost 50% of the products go to support Asian countries,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasized.

Nikolenko noted that the “grain corridor” saves millions of people in the world from malnutrition and hunger, and the international community, especially the countries of Africa and Asia, should not allow Moscow to use food as a weapon.

Tags: Ukraine, export, grain