Archives Europe and Ukraine - Page 7 of 9 - New Eastern Outlook

Due to the West’s disregard for Russian interests, Moscow withdrew from the Istanbul agreements; however, the issue of the grain deal is still up for discussion with Turkey and its NATO allies. Prior to President Erdoğan’s travels to the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, he voiced hope for Russia’s return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative and indicated an impending meeting or telephone call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on the matter in general. In any case, Turkey has made it clear that it is aware of Russia’s position and is unhappy with the way the Western allies are handling the UN agreements…

Just recently head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the European Union should double its assistance to Ukraine. She went on to say the EU should create a support fund of 50 billion euros by the end of the year and that everything should be done to ensure victory on the battlefield for the Ukrainians. The European Union has created a “support package” for Ukraine for 2023 of up to €18 billion. This money, however, is not in the form of gifts, grants, or to create an emergency war chest. These billions are a loan under an EU macro-financial assistance program…

I know I am telling you my approximate age to remember the 1973 Soviet-American Wheat Deal, whereby the United States sold substantial amounts of wheat and other feed and food grains to the former USSR. It was a win-win for Russian consumers and US farmers, as they [US farmers] considered themselves as being the breadbasket of the world. It was indirectly an act of diplomacy that brought the USSR and the US to closer to mutual understanding and collaboration.  The expected bumper harvests…