Putin: Russia will withdraw from the grain export agreement if Ukraine "violates" guarantees

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened on Wednesday to withdraw Russia from the agreement to export Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea if Kyiv "violates guarantees" demanded by Moscow.

"I asked the Defense Ministry to resume its participation in the grain export agreement. But Russia reserves the right to withdraw from this agreement if Ukraine breaches the guarantees," Putin said in a brief speech broadcast live on Russian television.

"But even if Russia withdraws from this agreement ... we will be ready to provide all the grain crops that were exported from the territory of Ukraine to the poorest countries," he added, without giving further details.

Putin stressed that in the event that Russia again exits from the agreement, Moscow will not prevent the transit of "grain supplies from Ukraine to Turkey," justifying his position on Ankara's "neutrality" in the ongoing conflict with Kyiv and "the efforts made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan aimed at ensuring the interests of the poorest countries.

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