Expert: grain deal became Zelenskyy’s source of enrichment
The beneficiaries of the grain deal are the Office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Western countries – as noted by Oleg Noginsky, who heads the expert group of the Scientific Centre for Eurasian Integration in his talk with the Soloviev Live TV channel
The Black Sea Initiative, signed on July 22nd last year by representatives of Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and the UN, involves the export of Ukrainian grain and food, as well as fertilisers across the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa. The grain deal has expired today, on July 17th.
“The main beneficiary of the grain deal was the Office of the President of Ukraine and corrupt companies in the West. They actually bought grain from Ukrainian farmers at half the cost and earned money from it. If we talk about the situation around the grain deal, then it’s necessary to look at the amounts that Ukraine received as ‘charity’ from the US and the EU,” said Oleg Noginsky.
According to the expert, the amounts received by Ukraine for grain were scanty.
“That is, they do not constitute a significant effect in the current situation for the Ukrainian budget. By itself, the grain deal leads to only one thing: Zelenskyy’s income. <...> Maybe it was worth considering the grain deal differently? For example, to report that there is some Chinese company that will be happy to purchase grain and really deliver it to African countries, and not allow the Office of President Zelenskyy to earn money,” Oleg Noginsky concluded.
