Laffy

Update: “#Putin says there will be no new deal to ship grain through the Black Sea until the West meets his demands…

Putin also said that #Russia is close to finalizing an agreement to provide free grain to six African countries.” #Ukraine #Turkey

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-turkey-putin-erdogan-sochi-ac41cb453a6d6c597d543873850414eb

Putin says he won't renew the grain deal until the West meets his demands. The West says it has

Russian President Vladimir Putin says a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain safely through the Black Sea won’t be restored until the West meets Moscow’s demands on its own agricultural exports. Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed the demands as a ploy to advance Russia's interests. Still, Putin’s remarks dashed hopes that his talks Monday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could revive the agreement. Russia in July refused to extend the deal that is seen as vital for global food supplies. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has taken steps to strengthen Russia's military ties with North Korea. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday that the two countries may hold joint war games.

AP News
Sep 4, 2023 at 2:04pmWeb
Show threadDarwin WoodkaSep 4, 2023
@GottaLaff lies
Show threadLaffySep 4, 2023
@darwinwoodka A given
Show threadAlan MartelloSep 4, 2023

@GottaLaff The AP article had one typo - forgot the quotes, Russia is providing “free” grain to six countries in Africa … meaning it’s not really free as in it will cost you nothing, ever.

Diamonds, gold, rare earth mines, military bases, dachas to retire to “just in case” … 100% sure this is not a humanitarian exercise by Putin. Feels more like Trump tossing out paper towels in Puerto Rico after a hurricane.

Show threadlord pthenq1Sep 4, 2023
@GottaLaff
Funny why would Ukraine would want to sign a deal restricting them when Russians cannot enforce the current no-deal scenario?
Show threadNicole ParsonsSep 4, 2023

@GottaLaff

Ever wonder why Africa is being so favored by Russia?

Yes, it's a rich source of mineral wealth, but the Chinese have also tried to court African nations and failed often.

Africa is potentially a source of solar energy and Russia and OPEC thwarts all efforts at renewable energy.

Keeping captive markets for their planet-frying toxic products is what corrupt petrostate despots do.

Africa is at risk of climate change famines so grain sales thwarts a transition to renewable energy.

Show threadSean McCabeSep 4, 2023

@Npars01 @GottaLaff
Some day we need to stop framing African nations as 'under developed' and use the more honest definition of 'over exploited.'

I mean, I've heard them defined as 'under developed' or 'third world' for most of my 59 years. At some point development could have happened.

Show threadAlan MartelloSep 4, 2023
@Npars01 @GottaLaff Plus the Russian approach of providing some grain seems a whole lot cheaper than the Chinese approach of actually building infrastructure. Seems like a no-brainer 3 wins for the relatively small price of 1.
Show threadNicole ParsonsSep 4, 2023

@amart @GottaLaff

The sale of looted Ukrainian grain to Africa isn't "cheap".

It's a "gift" with strings attached.

No one has weaponized starvation & famine as well as China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia have in modern times.

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/10/red-famine-anne-applebaum-ukraine-soviet-union/542610/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Famine
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chinese_Famine
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_famine_of_1921%E2%80%931922

Perhaps Africa is forgetting that history as well.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War
https://theconversation.com/famine-in-ethiopia-the-roots-lie-in-eritreas-long-running-feud-with-tigrayans-181866
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983%E2%80%931985_famine_in_Ethiopia#:~:text=The%20worst%20famine%20to%20hit,1983%E2%80%931985%20famine%20in%20Ethiopia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famine_in_Yemen_(2016%E2%80%93present)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor

How Stalin Hid Ukraine's Famine From the World

In 1932 and 1933, millions died across the Soviet Union—and the foreign press corps helped cover up the catastrophe.

The Atlantic
Show threadsandywb14Sep 5, 2023
@Npars01 @amart @GottaLaff 😡
Show threadCedricSep 4, 2023
@GottaLaff
I have a naive question: why not export Ukrainian grain through its neighbouring EU countries? Ukraine has plenty of border mileage with Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. Why is it so important to go through the black sea?
Show threadLaffySep 4, 2023
@cedric I'm the wrong one to ask.