Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested on Saturday that the European Commission purchase Ukrainian grain and send it to Africa.
"If the European Commission has been spending tens and tens of billions of dollars on [helping] Ukraine, why couldn't [Brussels purchase] this grain that Ukraine wants to sell, but the EU countries don't want [to import] because of competition [...] Let the European Commission buy this grain and send it to Africa," Lavrov told a press conference after the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
On July 18, Turkey and the UN mediated Black Sea Grain Initiative, which provided for a humanitarian corridor to allow safe exports of Russian and Ukrainian agricultural goods, expired after Russia refused to continue its participation, citing persistent violation of the package deal's component to facilitate Russian grain and fertilizer exports.
The main topic of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly is "Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals Towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability for All."