Russia’s Putin says there will be no new grain deal until West meets his demands

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that a landmark deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain safely through the Black Sea during the war will not be restored until the West meets Moscow’s demands on its own agricultural exports.

Putin’s remarks dashes hopes that his talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could revive the agreement, seen as vital for global food supplies, especially in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Russia refused to extend the deal in July, complaining that a parallel agreement promising to remove obstacles to Russian exports of food and fertilizer had not been honored. It said restrictions on shipping and insurance hampered its agricultural trade, though it has shipped record amounts of wheat since last year.

Putin reiterates those complaints today, while saying that if those commitments are honored, Russia could return to the deal “within days.”