In a joint written statement, American leader Joe Biden and Italian Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni said that the United States and Italy "understand the need to deal with the global consequences of the conflict"
WASHINGTON, July 28. /tass/. The United States and Italy intend to provide Ukraine with military and other types of assistance for as long as necessary. Such a promise is contained in a joint written statement by American President Joe Biden and Italian Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni, which was adopted following the talks held between them in Washington on Thursday.
"The United States and Italy will continue to provide political, military, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as much as necessary, with an eye to achieving a just and lasting peace with full respect for the UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," the document says, the text of which was distributed by the White House press service.
It also notes that the United States and Italy "understand the need to deal with the global consequences of the conflict [in Ukraine], especially affecting the stability, energy and food security of vulnerable countries." In this regard, Washington and Rome call for "ensuring Ukraine's food exports through the Black Sea" and condemn Moscow's "unilateral withdrawal" from the grain deal.
The grain deal was terminated on July 17. Russia, which has extended the agreement on the Black Sea corridor for ships with Ukrainian grain concluded in July 2022 several times, recalled that the part of the deal concerning it - the removal of obstacles to agricultural exports - has not been implemented. Moscow also drew attention to the fact that, although the agreements were intended to send food to the poorest countries, most of the grain from Ukraine went to the developed countries of the West. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow is ready to return to the agreements, but only when the relevant part of the agreement will be implemented.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow is ready to provide 25-50 thousand tons of grain to six African countries free of charge in the next three to four months, while ensuring its free delivery. Speaking at the plenary session of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, he named among these recipients of Russian grain Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Eritrea.
