On Saturday, the European Union castigated Russia for its “cynicism” in drawing out of the Black Sea grain deal, saying the bid of a million tons of grain to African nations was a “parody of generosity.”
Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, said, in a speech at the annual G20 summit in New Delhi, that the grain agreement had provided to weak nations more than 30 times the volume delivered to Africa by Russia.
“And what cynicism… you did not accept this,” Michel said in comments referring to the grain agreement that was directed at the Russian representative at the summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Michel added that not only have you chosen to draw out of this deal on the Black Sea, but at the same time you are attacking the port infrastructure. You are blockading the ports that provide access to the Black Sea, and even to the Danube, he added.
Moscow left the agreement in July, a year after it was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, complaining that its own food and fertilizer exports encountered obstructions and insufficient Ukrainian grain was going to nations in need.
The President of the EU said that to add insult to damage, Russia is proposing 1 million tons of grain to African nations in a parody of generosity.
“What cynicism and contempt for African countries,” he said, adding that the Black Sea agreement had supplied exports of more than 30 million tons so far, especially to the weakest nations.
In Russia, the Kremlin said it was sticking to its requirements for a return to the agreement.
