Russia has sent about 10.5 million tonnes of grain (mainly wheat) to Asia and Africa and is ready to deliver 30 million tonnes more before the end of the year, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday.
“Before the end of the year, we are ready to export about 30 million tonnes of grain, including, first of all, wheat, and bring this figure to 50 million tonnes, taking into account the harvest. About 10.5 million tonnes of grain (77 per cent of it is wheat) have already been shipped to Asia (62 per cent) and Africa (33 per cent),” the Ministry said.
While Ukrainian goods go along the humanitarian corridor to Europe and developed countries, Russian supplies are sent to those in need in Africa and Asia, the Ministry added.
“During the implementation of the Black Sea initiative, more than 70 ships were detained, and some were completely suspended for systematic violations related to non-compliance with the rules of navigation in the sea corridor and attempts to smuggle in specially equipped hiding places,” the statement says.
In addition, most (80 per cent) of the fertilizers that Russia is ready to send for free to the poorest countries are blocked in warehouses in Latvia. The rest of them are in Estonian ports.
As reminded, on July 22, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey signed a UN-brokered initiative to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. However, Moscow has repeatedly said that most of the ships carrying Ukrainian grain did not make it to the world’s poorest countries.
Ru-Main, 28.10.2022
Source: Sputnik
