The Belarusian leader slammed the EU for preventing Ukrainian grain from reaching global markets

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko blasted the EU for blocking Ukrainian grain exports, while praising the US for twisting Brussels' arm. He accused the bloc of halting shipments to shield its own markets and suggested that Minsk should be given oversight powers to ensure Africa-bound grain stays out of Europe.

In an interview with Time magazine released on Friday, Lukashenko accused the EU of standing in the way of Russian and US efforts to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The original deal, brokered by the UN and Türkiye in July 2022, was aimed at ensuring safe passage for Ukrainian grain exports in exchange for lifting restrictions on Russian food and fertilizer trade. Moscow pulled out in 2023, accusing the West of failing to uphold its part of the bargain.

Earlier this year, American and Russian officials agreed to reboot the initiative as part of a broader effort to settle the Ukraine conflict.

Lukashenko said Black Sea navigation remains unsafe due to mines near Ukraine's Port of Odessa. Noting that US President Donald Trump has proposed routing grain shipments through Poland or German ports instead, the Belarusian president asserted, "On the contrary, it is necessary to involve Belarus in this process, so no grain is transported through stinky Europe."

"Did they [the EU] let it through? No - they're afraid the grain will end up on the European market," he said, adding that "Trump is right to lean on" the bloc.

He argued that the overland route was the only viable option but noted that the EU was deliberately obstructing it. Belarus could provide "full control" and guarantee that not a single speck of grain intended for Africa would end up in the EU, he asserted, stressing that the EU "don't want that, those stinkers," Lukashenko emphasized.

In March, the EU rejected Moscow's demand to lift sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank as part of a ceasefire initiative discussed between Moscow and Washington. The Kremlin said the move showed the bloc's reluctance to end the Ukraine conflict.

The EU initially scrapped tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural exports after the conflict escalated in 2022, but reimposed restrictions after the imports flooded Eastern European markets, sparking widespread farmer protests.

(RT.com)