The resumption of cereal exports from Ukraine is a “matter of life or death” and “we hope” that an agreement will be reached this week to unblock the port of Odessa, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said on Monday. .
The draft agreement aims to remove some 20 million tons of grain blocked in Ukrainian silos through the Black Sea due to the offensive led by Moscow. It should also facilitate Russian exports of cereals and fertilizers, affected by Western sanctions that affect Russian logistics and financial chains.
Sanctions, a mistake?
Russia has announced a “final document” for a meeting organized by Turkey this week. The European Union intends to continue pressuring Moscow with new sanctions and financial and military support for Ukraine, Josep Borrell has announced.
The latter had denounced the sanctions on Friday, considering them “an error” because “they did not achieve their objective, and even had the opposite effect.” “The European economy has shot up in the lungs and is suffocated,” he said in a speech.
The European Commission presented new measures on Friday, including an embargo on gold purchases from Russia. The ministers must also decide on the release of a fifth tranche of 500 million euros from the “European Fund for Peace” to finance military equipment and weapons supplied to Ukraine.
Source: BFM TV
