EU chief takes aim at Russian ‘cynicism’ on Black Sea grain deal at G20
Charles Michel said Moscow’s offer of a million tons of grain to African countries was a ‘parody of generosity’ and an insultHe said the 2022 grain accord had delivered to vulnerable countries more than 30 times the volume offered to Africa by RussiaUkraine warReutersPublished: 12:08am, 10 Sep, 2023Why you can trust SCMP
The European Union castigated Russia on Saturday for pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal, calling its offer of a million tons of grain to African countries a “parody of generosity”.
Charles Michel, president of the European Council, told the annual G20 summit in New Delhi that the 2022 grain accord had delivered to vulnerable countries more than 30 times the volume offered to Africa by Russia.
“And what cynicism … you did not accept this,” Michel said in comments directed at the Russian summit representative, Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Russia quit the deal in July, a year after it was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, complaining that its own food and fertiliser exports faced obstacles and insufficient Ukrainian grain was going to countries in need.