On Monday, Moscow had quit the deal, under which it had allowed Ukraine a year ago to export grain from its Black Sea ports despite the war to alleviate a global food crisis. It said a parallel memorandum signed at the same time, intended to facilitate its own grain and fertiliser exports in the face of the Western sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, had been ignored. "Initially, the essence, the meaning of the grain deal has a colossal humanitarian significance," Putin said.
Putin accuses West of perverting grain deal but leaves door open to return kitco.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kitco.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday accused Western countries of perverting the expired Black Sea grain deal for their own ends, but said Russia would immediately return to the agreement if all its conditions were met.
On Monday, Moscow had quit the deal, under which it had allowed Ukraine a year ago to export grain from its Black Sea ports despite the war to alleviate a global food crisis. It said a parallel memorandum signed at the same time, intended to facilitate its own grain and fertiliser exports in the face of the Western sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, had been ignored. "Initially, the essence, the meaning of the grain deal has a colossal humanitarian significance,"