British Agriculture Secretary Victoria Predis today called for an immediate investigation into allegations that Russia was stealing grain from Ukraine following the Moscow invasion that pushed world food prices to record lows.
The Black Sea ports of Ukraine, the world’s fourth-largest grain exporter, have been closed since the invasion, with about 20 million tonnes of grain trapped in the country.
Predis told a conference of the International Grains Council (IGC) in London that she had heard first-hand allegations of grain theft from Russia by sources in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, calling them “very serious.”
Russia has previously denied allegations that it stole Ukrainian grain.
The United Nations is trying to mediate an agreement that will allow Ukrainian grain to be transported from ports such as Odessa. Russia has said it wants Western sanctions lifted as part of an agreement.
Turkey is also pushing for an agreement between Moscow and Kiev on a plan to resume grain exports from Ukrainian ports, although prospects for a deal look bleak, with each side blaming the other for world supply disruptions. food.
Ukraine and the West accuse Moscow of using food supplies as a weapon. Russia blames the situation on landmines planted by Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea and international sanctions against Moscow.
Kyiv complained last week that Russia was sending stolen grain to Turkey from Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. It also accused Russia of sending 100,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain to Syria.
Ukraine’s Deputy Economy Minister Taras Katska told the conference that the reputation of Russian companies would be damaged for years by their efforts to trade stolen grain, he said.
SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
Source: Capital
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