(Bloomberg) – Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa and issued a pessimistic note on the Black Sea grains deal which expires on Monday. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy agreed on a comprehensive package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction aid after meeting in Kyiv on Saturday. Yoon said his country would increase support for non-lethal munitions and provide demining equipment, among other things.
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Ukraine’s counter-offensive in the east and south continues and would have made small gains on Friday. The action comes as a senior US intelligence officer this week called the war a stalemate. In his Friday night video address, Zelenskiy described a “detailed” meeting with his senior commanders to discuss current conditions, including “the rational use of shells, partner supplies and our own Ukrainian production.” Russian forces are “investing everything they can” to stop kyiv’s advance, he added.
Debate continues over where Wagner’s forces previously deployed in Ukraine, Africa and elsewhere will operate next, following the June mutiny attempt and subsequent revelations, including a meeting with Putin a few days later. the uprising. Wagner mercenaries have surfaced in Belarus as military trainers, and on Saturday the Ukrainian border service reported the movement of Wagner forces into Belarus that had arrived from Russia.
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Cereal prices rise due to uncertainty in Ukraine
Wheat and maize prices rose for a second session on Friday as uncertainty looms over Ukraine’s grain export deal set to expire on Monday.
Time is running out on the Black Sea deal that allowed Ukraine to export 33 million tonnes of grain and foodstuffs last year. Putin told Ramaphosa that Russia’s demands had still not been met. Moscow said more Ukrainian grain should be sent to developing countries, including in Africa – although its availability on the world market makes grain more plentiful in general. Russia is currently the world’s largest supplier of wheat.
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