Lukashenko: world famine due to exports of Ukrainian grain is nothing more but idle talk
In his talk with journalists, the President of Belarus commented on the food deal on exports of Ukrainian grain
The Head of State emphasised that the topic related to the world famine due to Ukrainian grain actually resembles a fake. “This is a way out of the situation that Americans and their satellites got into. They have once again created almost a fake. Take Ukraine. ‘If it is possible to take grain out, then there will be no famine in Europe or Africa’, [world media stated]. At its best times, Ukraine accounted for one and a half percent in [global] grain exports – which was actually nothing! That was an arithmetic error. But they started accusing us and Russia – saying that we are aggressors, that we do not allow to export a huge volume, as much as 20-25m tonnes of Ukrainian grain. Therefore, there will be famine. Putin and I immediately got the picture,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The Head of State reminded that, jointly with the President of Russia, they reacted to that situation and offered options for grain exports. “You are welcome to take it out. If you want, the cheapest [route] is via Belarus. But no, they’d rather die than pay. How is it possible? They came again to the dictator to ask him to help take the grain out. [You can] take it out in a teaspoon, if you wish. We are not looking at it. This is beneficial for us as well: it is not done for free,” he explained.
Aleksandr Lukashenko added that Russians had also offered an option – via the Black Sea, guaranteeing the safety of grain transportation. However, it was not accepted. As a result, they decided to settle the issue in their own way.
“They need to get out of this situation, which they got into but accused us for that. Well, they met in Istanbul, made an agreement, and the grain is already being shipped out. Well, ‘hungry Africa will be fed’ at last. Listen, the two dozen ships they use [to transport grain] will be not enough even to satisfy Turkey’s needs. Iran is already negotiating with Russia: it wishes to receive grain of the new harvest. So these are simply games. The media began to post: ‘It is famine! Its reasons root here [in Russia and Belarus]’. When we proposed them to act, they had to do. You will see soon that this topic will go away, it is already going away. You will see then what it is worth. This is nothing more but idle talk,” the President states.