DMITRY Medvedev, Russia’s ex-president and now senior security official, said the West should not expect Russia to continue food supplies if it slaps the latter with devastating sanctions over Ukraine.

“Our country is ready to fulfil its obligations in full, but also expects assistance from trading partners, including on international platforms,” he said on messaging app Telegram.

“Otherwise, there is no logic: on the one hand, insane sanctions are being imposed against us, on the other hand, they are demanding food supplies.

“Things do not work like that; we are not idiots.

“Countries importing our wheat and other food products will have a very difficult time without supplies from Russia. On European and other fields, without our fertilisers, only juicy weeds will grow.

“We have every opportunity to ensure other countries have food, and food crises do not happen. Just do not interfere with our work.”

Russia and Ukraine alone produce 30% of the global wheat supply.

Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine and the subsequent barrage of unprecedented international sanctions have disrupted supplies of fertiliser, wheat and other commodities from both countries, pushing up prices for food and fuel, especially in developing countries.

The United Nations called on Russia to allow exports of Ukrainian grain that is held up in Black Sea ports.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the Russian military of holding hostage “the food supply” for millions of people around the world.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova yesterday reiterated Moscow’s stance that the food crisis is the result of Western sanctions, among other things.

“The record number of restrictions imposed on Russia’s foreign economic potential has been felt by the whole world. Moreover, economically vulnerable countries are the first to be hit.”

She said Russia is continuing food supplies in accordance with its commercial agreements and as part of humanitarian assistance.

“Our country is interested in the stable functioning of the world food market.” – AFP, May 20, 2022.