FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo by Mikhail KLIMENTYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP
Tehran, Iran 鈥斅燫ussian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that the West must remove restrictions on exports of Russian grain.
鈥淲e will facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain, but we are proceeding from the fact that all restrictions related to air deliveries for the export of Russian grain will be lifted,鈥� Putin told reporters in Tehran after talks with the presidents of Iran and Turkey.
Russia鈥檚 military intervention in Ukraine has hampered shipments from one of the world鈥檚 biggest exporters of wheat and other grain, sparking fears of global food shortages.
鈥淎s you know, Americans have lifted 鈥� essentially lifted 鈥� restrictions on the supply of Russian fertilizers to the world markets,鈥� Putin said.
鈥淚f they sincerely want to improve the situation on the international food markets, I hope the same will happen with the supply of Russian grain for export.鈥�
Cereal prices in Africa, the world鈥檚 poorest continent, have surged because of the slump in exports from Ukraine, sharpening the impact of conflict and climate change and sparking fears of social unrest.
The United Nations has said Africa faces an 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� crisis caused by the conflict.
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