{"id":548061,"date":"2022-07-25T04:00:22","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T04:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2022\/07\/25\/russias-lavrov-offers-reassurances-on-wheat-supply-to-egypt\/"},"modified":"2022-07-25T04:00:22","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T04:00:22","slug":"russias-lavrov-offers-reassurances-on-wheat-supply-to-egypt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2022\/07\/25\/russias-lavrov-offers-reassurances-on-wheat-supply-to-egypt\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia\u2019s Lavrov offers reassurances on wheat supply to Egypt"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> Shipments of Russian wheat are safe, Lavrov tells Egypt: <\/strong>Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sought to ease Egyptian fears of a shortage of wheat and other grains during talks with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo yesterday. The meeting comes amid concern that its agreement to resume Ukrainian wheat exports may collapse after a Russian missile strike on a key port. \u201cWe confirmed the commitment of Russian grain exporters to meet their commitments in full,\u201d Lavrov said in a joint press conference with Shoukry following the talks (watch, runtime: 32:11)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The catch: <\/strong>It\u2019s not just Russia\u2019s wheat that we (and other nations) need.<\/p>\n

Wheat pact under threat:<\/strong> The UN- and Turkey-brokered agreement<\/a> to reopen Ukraine\u2019s Black Sea ports and unlock mns of tons of stranded grain was thrown into uncertainty just hours after it was signed when Russian missiles struck targets at Odesa port<\/a>, appearing to put it in breach of the pact under which Russia had pledged not to target Ukrainian ports involved in shipping grain. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy indicated<\/a> yesterday that Kyiv will continue to prepare for the resumption of exports, but said the attack showed that Moscow cannot be trusted to keep to the agreement.<\/p>\n

The prolonged wheat crisis is costing us: <\/strong>Egypt sourced around 80% of its wheat imports from Ukraine and Russia prior to the war, with more than 20% coming from Ukraine. Record wheat prices earlier this year added an additional EGP 15 bn<\/a> to the country\u2019s import bill in the final four months of the fiscal year that ended 30 June. Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said in June that wheat imports will cost an additional <\/strong>USD 3 bn this year<\/a><\/strong> if prices don\u2019t come down.<\/p>\n

Lavrov blames sanctions for food crisis:<\/strong> The Russian minister said \u201cillegitimate\u201d (read: Western) economic sanctions have been responsible for the shock to global food supply chains and called on Western nations to ease restrictions he claims make it difficult for Russia to export food and fertilizer. Ukraine and G7 nations say that Russia is responsible for the crisis due its blockade of Ukraine\u2019s Black Sea ports. \u201cWe have a common understanding of the causes of the grain and food crises,\u201d Lavrov said, adding that he agreed with El Sisi that the two countries will follow up on Russian exports.<\/p>\n

Could Egypt play mediator?<\/strong> During talks with Lavrov, El Sisi reiterated<\/a> his offer to help find a diplomatic solution to the crisis, according to Ittihadiya<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lavrov\u2019s visit is part of a wider tour around Africa<\/strong> with stops in Ethiopia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as Moscow looks to firm up relations with our neck of the woods.<\/p>\n

Also from the presser:<\/strong><\/p>\n