Putin: "Will Guarantee Ukraine's Grain Exports from Russian-Occupied Ports"

Setting 'Mine Clearance in the Harbor' as a Precondition
Criticizing Western Sanctions as "Short-sighted and Foolish Policies"

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. Photo by AP, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will guarantee the export of Ukrainian grain through the Ukrainian ports occupied by Russia.

However, he emphasized that the removal of mines installed at the ports must be a prerequisite.

On the 4th (local time), according to TASS news agency, President Putin explained in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV that "the precondition for transporting grain through Odesa, Ukraine's largest port city, is to ease defenses aimed at Russian warships."

He also listed alternatives for Ukraine to export grain, such as through Berdyansk and Mariupol, or via the Danube River or through Romania, Hungary, and Poland.

Furthermore, President Putin predicted that sanctions surrounding Russia would exacerbate the supply-demand imbalance in the global grain market.

He criticized, "The new sanctions will worsen the situation in the global fertilizer market," adding, "Western sanctions are absolutely short-sighted and erroneous, ultimately a foolish policy leading to a dead end."

This statement was made in response to criticism that Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports could cause food shortages, especially in impoverished countries such as those in Africa. Before Russia's invasion, Ukraine was considered one of the world's major grain exporters.

President Putin also mentioned Belarus. He said, "The simplest method (for grain export and procurement) is through Belarus," and added, "Sanctions against Belarus need to be lifted."

Belarus, a country north of Ukraine, became a target of Western sanctions alongside Russia after assisting the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.