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Russia castigates EU’s self-centered scheme to empty grain out of Ukraine

Vladimir Chizhov noted that now, Europe is faced with a drought and a lack of fertilizers

MOSCOW, May 23. /TASS/. The European Union is doing everything possible to take out grain supplies from Ukraine without the slightest consideration for the country’s population, a Russian envoy said on Monday, slamming the attitude as egoistic.

"The EU is now doing its best to take last year’s grain supplies out of Ukraine, seemingly without even a second thought for what the country’s residents might be able to eat or plant," Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said during an on-air broadcast of the Rossiya-24 television channel. "The EU and the West at large are clearly displaying an egoistic attitude," he added.

Europe is faced with a drought and a lack of fertilizers right now, Chizov pointed out.

"Russia and Belarus used to be the largest suppliers of fertilizers, <…> but sanctions were imposed on Belarus and its fertilizers two years ago following the presidential elections in the country," the diplomat noted. "So, there’s obviously a lack of fertilizers, and the available volumes are now several times as expensive."

EU foreign diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said earlier that the EU would help Ukraine "empty this storage capacity to be able to receive the next crop." The West has to help Ukraine "keep producing and exporting grains and wheat," he added.

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