Putin says no new grain deal till West meets his demands

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. File Pic/AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that a landmark deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain safely through the Black Sea amid the war won't be restored until the West meets Moscow's demands on its own agricultural exports. Putin's remarks dashed hopes that his talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could revive the agreement, seen as vital for global food supplies.

Former Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov. Pic/AP

Russia refused to extend the deal in July, complaining that a parallel agreement promising to remove obstacles to Russian exports of food and fertilizer hadn't 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 reiterated those complaints, saying that if those commitments were honored, Russia could return to the deal "within days."

Zelensky replaces defence minister

Dismissing wartime Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has nominated Rustem Umerov as the country's new defence minister, stating that the ministry needs "new approaches" as the war with Russia enters its 19th month. Reznikov has become a well-known figure since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war on February 24, 2022.

‘South Africa didn't supply any arms to Russia'

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said that an independent probe has found no evidence that the country supplied arms to Russia amid its ongoing conflict. Ramaphosa said statements from several quarters have used these allegations to cast doubt on South Africa's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.