Borrell: russia deliberately withdrew from the grain deal to stir up world markets and sell its grain at inflated prices

The European Union has called on G20 countries to pressure Russia to renew an agreement that allows Ukraine to export grain across the Black Sea, according to a letter seen by AFP on Thursday.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told G20 diplomats that Moscow's withdrawal from the UN-brokered deal made Russia's agricultural sector the "main beneficiary."

"russia will further benefit from rising food prices and increase its share of the world grain market, severely limiting the ability of its main export competitor," he wrote in a letter dated Monday.

According to him, Russia, by offering vulnerable countries grain at a discount, "pretends to solve a problem that it created."

"It is a cynical policy of deliberately using food as a weapon to create new dependencies by increasing economic vulnerability and global food insecurity," Borrell wrote.

Borrell believes that Russia can be persuaded to return to the agreement "if the international community speaks with a clear and united voice."

"Therefore, I would like to ask for your support to convince Russia to return to the negotiations and to refrain from attacking Ukraine's agricultural infrastructure," he said.

The EU and other key Western allies of Ukraine are trying to persuade the G20 countries, including India and Brazil, to take action against Russia over its decision to withdraw from the grain deal.

Background. As a reminder, two ships refused to moor in the port of Izmail after an attack by Russian drones.