Much Ado About Nothing
A bunch of current headlines are scary:
- Higher food prices and more hunger: Collapse of Black Sea grain deal poses a massive threat - CNN - Jul 18
- World facing prospect of 'hunger games' as China hoards grains and Russia withdraws from deal - Indian Express - Jul 19
- Russian Grain Deal: Why Moscow Is Being Accused Of Using Hunger As 'Blackmail' - Yahoo - Jul 18
- Russia halts deal allowing Ukraine to export grain, in a hit to global food security - LA Times - Jul 17
- Higher food prices and more hunger: Collapse of Black Sea grain deal poses a massive threat - CNN - Jul 18
- Russia pulls out of Black Sea grain deal with Ukraine sparking hunger fears in poorest countries - ITV - Jul 17
- ...
Then there is the real world in which wheat is produced and traded internationally:

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The peak in summer 2022 was caused by the war in Ukraine and not natural. Since then prices have moved with the usual ups and downs towards a rather normal level. When the Black Sea grain deal ended they stayed within their previous range.
Meanwhile the main grain elevator at the port of Odessa, which presumably has been used as part of the vaunted Ukrainian air-defense, successfully interdicted a Kalibr missile.

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More wheat is coming to the markets from other producers than Ukraine. During the next year, even without grain from Ukraine, prices for wheat and corn may actually come down:
World wheat supplies are strong following exceptionally high exports from Australia and Russia and a rebound in Canadian shipments after droughts disrupted last year’s season. After falling for years, global stocks may finally rise in 2023. As for corn, Ukraine’s shortfall may well be filled by expected record sales from Brazil, reckons Alexis Ellender of Kpler, a data firm.
So this is much ado about nothing. Globally Ukraine just isn't important at all.
Posted by b on July 19, 2023 at 16:11 UTC | Permalink
next page »China hopes Black Sea grain transport package agreement will continue to be implemented in a comprehensive manner - Chinese Foreign Ministry
China as we know, was the largest importer of wheat from this deal
Posted by: Soothsayer | Jul 19 2023 16:20 utc | 2
Poland says will stop the current scheme for resale from Ukraine.Any others following....and of course the Z claims that Ukr grain is being denied to countries desperately in need is total nonsense too
Sputnik has article today re Ukr corruption concerns continuing....and another Trump saying EU must pay back USA when he is President for all the USA armaments sentto Europe... especially as they did not live up to his "requests" for full 2% Nato contributions.
Sounds like a big divorce coming up. And no F15 either.
Posted by: Jo | Jul 19 2023 16:23 utc | 3
Posted by: Soothsayer | Jul 19 2023 16:20 utc | 2
Russia and Turkey are working out a new grain deal to substitute the old one that expired. Just some guesses how it will work:
-in the new deal grain will be shipped from Crimean ports and/or Novorrosyisk
-Turkey will continue to receive significant discounts
-EU no longer is part of the new grain deal, won't get special privileges to skim off 97 % of the grain for itself
-poorer (non-western) countries will get discounts, and a minimum allotment of total supply
-Turkish navy announced they won't participate in protecting any further civilian shipping to/from Ukrainian ports (which are now, non-functional anyway)
-EU will transport Ukrainian grain to itself on wheels, raising the price in several multiples compared to old deal
-EU risked dismantling its own agricultural and farming sector on the basis that it would get cheap grain from Ukraine, which no longer applies
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 19 2023 16:28 utc | 5
The U.N.seems to be rules-biased, sorry, I mean of course, rulings-biased & its winds definitely from the west.
Posted by: Elmagnostic | Jul 19 2023 16:33 utc | 7
These values need to consider global warming too. /s
Posted by: On the move | Jul 19 2023 16:35 utc | 8
You know Ukraine is fucked when the first eu leader to visit you, after nato just told you to get lost, is the Irish pm, Leo rainbow socks Varadker, (very Irish name).
Leo, who recently was caught on video in an Irish night club kissing a young man, not his husband, is known to be fond of the Bolivian marching powder, just like VZ.
VZ,who also likes young boys imo,must have needed some manly love while Leo, with 5 million of Irish taxpayers money, was obviously in need of some proper charlie, not the Dublin crap.
You couldn't make this shit up.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0719/1395348-taoiseach-makes-unannounced-visit-to-kyiv/
Posted by: Eoin Clancy | Jul 19 2023 16:40 utc | 9
Thanks for another view at the propaganda attempts.....and success with those follower types
Humanity is in a civilization war with many fronts and proxies trying to keep the Western top/bottom class system operative....and they are failing because it represents an anti-humanistic approach when viewed clearly from behind the curtain of MSM deceit.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 19 2023 16:46 utc | 10
@Eoin Clancy | Jul 19 2023 16:40 utc | 9
Maybe resupply of 'marching powder' is why Kiev gets so many visitors with diplomatic immunity.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 19 2023 16:54 utc | 11
@xblob 1
its indeed absurd.
Here suddenly Russian restaurants point out how much of Ukrainian origin Borscht actually is. So they put it onto the menu now as "Ukrainian Borscht".
Suddenly the anonymous bottles of vegetable oil are decorated with female figures dressed in fancy allegedly Ukrainian traditional embroidery.
Now its all of a sudden extremely important to point out a fucking poduct is from fucking Ukraine so products are framed by blue-yellow ribbons.
No wonder Sweden has joined NATO. They have come to mix up their flags as pervasive as Ukraine´s flag is nowadays.
Not to speak of the nightly illumination of public buildings in yellow and blue whereas other parts of the cities are in dark due to the necessity to save electricity for the sake of our planet.
Best thing: If you point out to people the madness, they will call you most likely a Fascist.
Fuck me.
Posted by: AG | Jul 19 2023 17:19 utc | 12
About the strikes on Odessa last night according to UBezsonov -
Strategically, this attack is very important and caused great damage to the combat capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, because the Odessa port is the main hub of the entire transport system of Ukraine, which can be used in the same way to deliver “Western aid”. Now the Russian army has freedom of maneuver, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine may have significant problems with the delivery of "Western aid" and the money that went for grain and with which the Kiev regime could pay for numerous loans.In two days, rocket attacks were carried out on the Odessa, Ilyichevsk and Nikolaev seaports, the bridge across the Dniester in Mayaki was damaged, which creates big logistical problems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, explosions were also reported in Zatoka - however, what was hit there is still unknown. Several large warehouses of fuel and lubricants and ammunition, military units were hit, which creates a shortage of fuel for the enemy. In addition, multiple arrivals outside the city were recorded, as a result of which the second air defense line was damaged and a blow was struck at the Odessa plant, where surface drones were manufactured.
Posted by: MiniMo | Jul 19 2023 17:45 utc | 13
B, thanks for the reality check. I won’t hold my breath waiting for this information to appear in the MSM.
Posted by: Rob | Jul 19 2023 18:04 utc | 14
"Globally Ukraine just isn't important at all."
I am sorry, but this is puzzlingly wrong. In the world of wheat, Ukraine is (or more precisely, used to be) one of the top players.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_wheat_exports
around 10% of world exports.
The war has had a devastating impact on Ukraine's production and export of wheat, but it's still an important player:
https://www.worldstopexports.com/wheat-exports-country/
The price of a commodity is set at the margin, so losing an important producer can have a large impact. And it has. Today the spot wheat price was up 7.5%.
https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/wheat-price/usd
Will this spike stick? I don't know, but you can't assume it will not.
Posted by: J-B Moquelin | Jul 19 2023 18:25 utc | 15
b, you wouldn’t be suggesting that there might be some corruption in the global grains trading biz, would you? I am reminded of oilseeds. What about the mighty Ukrainian sunflower? Is the oilseed market any better? Remember back when oils were in short supply the world over? That disappeared from the media, although I’m not sure how that crisis turned itself around.
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jul 19 2023 18:30 utc | 16
Yesterday the UNSC held a session devoted to discussing AI, a first for the UNSC, but not for UN specialist platforms. IMO, there's been too little public discussion about AI as I noted in the article I wrote back on April 1, and that hasn't changed, which is why I made the meeting the topic of today's substack article, "UN Security Council Debates Artificial Intelligence (AI)". Included besides my POV are the remarks by UNSG Guterres, China and Russia, plus a Global Times op/ed is appended in the comments. When you finish you'll realize that the Confrontation between RoW and Outlaw US Empire goes well beyond Ukraine and has some features most won't at first be aware of.
An interesting interview with an editor from Newsweek. I was disappointed at the end he makes disparaging remarks about R. intelligence which are unexplained except in a vaguely passing way. Unfortunately he resorts to the usual Russian intelligence is not as agood etc.
(History student )
Posted by: Herodotus | Jul 19 2023 18:41 utc | 18
Yeah well ... the price of bulk thick cut rolled oats at the local natural food store just went from a buck seventy nine to two twenty nine in the last week. That's a 30 percent plus increase. It's been a buck seventy nine for three or four years... all through the 'plandemic supply chain shortage'.
Posted by: Heretical_i | Jul 19 2023 18:42 utc | 19
Official statement by the Russian Ministry of Defence in connection with the termination of the Black Sea Initiative [the "grain deal] and the closing of the maritime humanitarian corridor:
- Starting at 00:00 MSK on July 20, 2023, all vessels sailing in the waters of the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports will be considered potential carriers of military cargo;
- The flag countries of such vessels will be considered to be involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kiev regime;
- In addition, a number of sea areas in the north-western and south-eastern parts of the international waters of the Black Sea have been declared temporarily dangerous for navigation;
- Appropriate information warnings on the withdrawal of safety guarantees to mariners have been issued in accordance with the established procedure.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/55755
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jul 19 2023 18:43 utc | 20
J-B Moquelin | Jul 19 2023 18:25 utc | 15
Bruised Northerner | Jul 19 2023 18:30 utc | 16--
The global problem with commodity product pricing is two-fold: First, it's in dollars; second, the Outlaw US Empire can manipulate it at will since it has a monopoly on the global market setting the prices in Chicago. Change that equation, and prices will move lower and become more stable.
…..Best thing: If you point out to people the madness, they will call you most likely a Fascist.
Posted by: AG | Jul 19 2023 17:19 utc | 12…..
If the topic ever comes up on mixed company; I just comment we need to fight until the last Ukrainian !
Usual response is stunned silence and then change of subject. LOL
Posted by: Exile | Jul 19 2023 18:46 utc | 22
Heretical_i | Jul 19 2023 18:42 utc | 19--
A clear indication of a monopolist controlling price. Markets within the Outlaw US Empire are only free in the sense that monopolists are free to set whatever price they want as those charged with regulating them won't.
Black Sea Closed
Russia just announced that effective midnight time in Moscow it will treat all vessels heading to Ukraine’s ports as military threats - as a "party to the conflict" and will respond accordingly...
Posted by: Just Observing | Jul 19 2023 18:53 utc | 24
From Rezident_UA's Telegram Channel:
"Our source within the Presidential Office has revealed that with the support of British intelligence, a plan is being developed for cargo ships to pass through the ports of the Odessa region. Currently, negotiations are underway with private companies to acquire several ships that will symbolically sail to Odessa and provoke Russia into an attack. If the cargo ships pass through peacefully, Ukraine will declare the grain corridor safe. However, if an attack on these peaceful ships occurs, Ukraine aims to launch an international campaign against Russia."
Please note that this information is based on an alleged insider information, so take it with a pinch of salt. Although it does seem plausible.
@DDGeopolitics
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 19 2023 19:03 utc | 25
Always a good idea to look at numbers:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_wheat_production_statistics
Ukraine #8, 24 tons per year
Russia #2, 85.9 tons per year (blocking those exports by sanctions miracolously doesn't seem to affect prices or availability of wheat in poor countries....)
World production 761 tons. 24/761 = 3 % (Ukraine's contribution to fighting hunger in the world ...
Not much different for other agricultural products: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_producing_countries_of_agricultural_commodities
Posted by: Marvin | Jul 19 2023 19:05 utc | 26
Two questions about Odessa:
1. After Russia has destroyed pretty much all military infrastructure in Odessa, largely because no air defense whatsoever: What are the chances of Russia (threatening to) liberate Odessa?
2. Will Ukraine (have to) kill the grain deal for good by flooding the Odessa coast - once again - with sea mines, to prevent 1.?
Posted by: Marvin | Jul 19 2023 19:08 utc | 27
The Ukraine war was knowingly and intentionally provoked by the globalists. Globalists are without exception, acolytes of Anthropogenic Global Warming Theology. One of the primary tenants of this perverted religion is that the human population must be reduced to "sustainable" levels. Their idea of a "sustainable" population is not much more than one Billion people or fewer. By their estimations, this nearly ninety percent decrease in the human population must occur by the middle of the century. Obviously; this decrease in population can't occur through normal attrition combined with reduced birth rates. Obviously; the globalists need plagues (the Covidvirus) war (in the Ukraine) and famine to reduce the population.
Aside from the desire to "degrade" Russia, the provocation of the war in Ukraine was motivated by the intention to kill as many Ukrainians and Russians as possible combined with an interruption in food exports from Ukraine as well as Russia. As an added benefit, the sanctions were intended to disrupt exports of fertilizer from Russia or Natural Gas from Russia with which to manufacture fertilizer elsewhere. Remember that the US and EU vetoed a plan to build a fertilizer plant in Africa.
Posted by: Elmer Fudd | Jul 19 2023 19:10 utc | 28
So I guess we now know why they attacked the Crimea bridge just before the end of the black sea grain initiative. They knew their military facilities they piggy backed onto the grain operations was going to be destroyed soon after. Shoot em before you lose them.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 19 2023 19:16 utc | 29
Another headline for the list at the top:
https://zn.ua/eng/the-eu-is-not-happy-with-ukrainian-grain-and-this-is-not-purely-a-market-issue.html
While we had to pay top dollar for wheat products in the supermarket, producers had to sell their wheat super cheap. The problem was not a shortage of wheat. But Ukraine flooding the EU with super cheap wheat.
"Even last year, it was obvious that, despite the global increase in wheat prices and food risks for a number of countries, half of Ukrainian grain, which is so difficult to export from the country, is exported at an inadequate discount. Super-cheap Ukrainian grain, finding itself on the European market, has significantly reduced the profits of local producers, they are simply unable to compete either in price or in quantity with Ukrainian grain. At the average price of wheat on the global market of USD 362/ton, our wheat was sold to Poland for USD 222, to Hungary for USD 233, and to Bulgaria for USD 200. (see Fig. 2)."
Posted by: Marvin | Jul 19 2023 19:18 utc | 30
At least 1 Odessa couple welcomed the Russian arrivals with cheers:
Posted by: Mary | Jul 19 2023 19:27 utc | 31
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 19 2023 16:28 utc | 5
This version of "crypto-grain deal" seems fishy. I do not see ANY WAY of bringing Ukrainian grain to Russia without de-escalation of warfare, and NO REASON to bring Russian (or Ukrainian) grain to Crimea where ports are not prepared for it.
Posted by: AG | Jul 19 2023 17:19 utc | 12
In Poland, "barszcz" has two versions: Ukrainian, with vegetables and potatoes, and Polish, which is clear with a possible addition of dumplings. So a menu in Polish restaurant may have three versions of "barszcz". In summer there is also "cold barszcz", similar to gaspacho, but with beets and beet greens instead of tomatoes. Apparently, a Lithuanian dish. Once I ate "Moscow borsht" which differs from Ukrainian and Polish versions.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jul 19 2023 19:27 utc | 32
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 19 2023 19:03 utc | 26
No private shipper would commit its ships to sailing into a zone with announced and credible hostilities. Committing navy to escorting has difficulties too because of Black Sea restrictions.
Lastly, Russia has an urgent need to close all Ukrainian possibilities to launch autonomous submersibles, so it will go through all docks and storage facilities that could be used for that. So far, through two nights, but expect it to continue.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jul 19 2023 19:33 utc | 33
A thoughtful examination from Aurelien on the consequences of accepting 404 into NATO. Spoiler alert: not for the reasons most common taters rattle on about.....
@24 Dulles_Did_Dallas
It's greedflation. Anything which rose by more than 20% is pure greed.
Recommend not buying anything which goes up more than 20%. Cereal is mostly junk food and inexpensive to make so see as pure greed in cereal prices. One of worst have seen is Totino's Pizza. Used to buy 4 at a time, were 79 cents. Now 2 dollars plus. Not bought any for about 2 years. Price has come down to $1.68 but still too high. If want to correct pricing issues do not buy their products, try something else. In case of Totino's (200% increase) will never buy their products again.
Posted by: Thurl | Jul 19 2023 19:40 utc | 35
China as we know, was the largest importer of wheat from this deal
Posted by: Soothsayer | Jul 19 2023 16:20 utc | 2
corn, mostly coarse live-stock feed as in years prior to SMO.
Posted by: sln2002 | Jul 19 2023 20:01 utc | 36
Nothing will come of this, more red lines and time lines but posting it FYI:
At least 10 foreign cargo ships are now in the ports of Nikolaev and Odessa. The ships have time to leave before midnight, otherwise Russia may consider them involved in the military conflict on the side of Ukraine.
The ships fly the flags of African and Asian countries. Three of them are registered in Liberia, two in Hong Kong, two in Palau. Another is registered in the Caymans, Belize and Panama.
https://t.me/nicolaililin/7908
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jul 19 2023 20:04 utc | 37
The silly season continues.
US Pressuring Ukraine For 'Decisive Breakthrough' & More Aggressive Tactics: WaPo
Posted by: jpc | Jul 19 2023 20:07 utc | 38
Posted by: jpc | Jul 19 2023 20:07 utc | 39
The reason is due to the fact that USA population is generally losing interest in this war, US has shoveled $200 billion into Ukraine, with huge continuous deficits, high interest rate and federal interest payments exceeding $1 trillion. Biden needs to stop it before it becomes an election topic and RFK will shove the issue up Biden's arse.
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 19 2023 20:21 utc | 40
unimperator | Jul 19 2023 20:21 utc | 41--
Unfortuantely, given what courts have said about the control both D&R parties have over who they select for the POTUS ballot, RFKjr's attempts to "shove the issue up Biden's arse" will have zero affect on Biden's being selected for the ballot or not. And the same goes for whatever Trump has to say. If either of those two were savvy, they'd put the court decision in question at the top of their oratory instead of completely ignoring it as they are now.
Much Ado About Nothing? Not only. I also see "Silence About An Impact Hit".
On July 16, two Iskander missiles hit railway installations in Kharkov.
They hit ammunition and military personnel who were unloading an apparently big delivery. As a result, AFU lost up to a battalion of soldiers killed and wounded, as well as a number of Leopard tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and M113 armored personnel carriers and other military equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars...
Immediately after the strike, unusual activity of military transport and other aircraft of NATO countries was recorded in the direction of Polish Rzeszow: A Boeing cargo flight from Rzeszow to Ukraine and back; An ambulance flight of the ASL FlyMed airline, which specializes in providing emergency medical services for high-ranking officials, flew from Rzeszow to Belgian Liege; In Rzeszow landed and soon took off in the direction of the UK an Airbus KC2 of the British Air Force...
Posted by: OttoE | Jul 19 2023 20:37 utc | 42
Not so sure, b.
The reasons for a war published by the PTB may be all total BS, but that doesn't mean there isn't a war.
The stories about grain shortages etc. may all be BS, but that doesn't mean they are not foreshadowing upcoming shortages.
There has been a steady drip of fringe press stories in the US about food facilities burning down (over 500 in past two years which is NOT typical) plus fertilizer and chemical train freight getting derailed, also at higher than usual rates.
Some think this is subterfuge organized by the Yellow-Man-Bad -Demons from across the Pacific (possible given no border), but, assuming all these different reports are not complete BS (always possible) more likely it is home-grown, shadow-govt-sponsored sabotage.
Whether fake news or not, it too might be foreshadowing what's at some point gonna be actually comin' 'round the corner when she comes...
Posted by: Scorpion | Jul 19 2023 20:53 utc | 44
The topic of fires on US food facilities is interesting. Also in Scott Ritter's recent document, part 2 of Agent Zelensky, it was revealed that the actual reason for US (meaning Monsanto and other companies) to obtain control over Ukraine's farmland from Odessa to Mariupol is not the grain itself. The actual reason is to gain control and leverage over other countries, meaning EU countries.
You could then easily extend the point that the purpose of burning down food facilities and derailing food and chemical trains in the US has the purpose of gaining control and leverage over the domestic population, and fits like glove in hand for uncle Schwab's reset plans.
Meanwhile, the west will create "carbon tolls" to prevent non-western products (who don't follow Uncle Schwab's reset agenda) from coming to fill the void and ruining that plan. The future is very dark for EU and US population.
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 19 2023 21:00 utc | 44
What JCC aggregate data do not describe is type of UA "agricultural product"/destination country. You'd need pivot table skillz and the JCC spreadsheet of MY 2021/2022 and MY 2022/2023 exports from the three (3) covered UA portsmdash;Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Pivdennyi. Presently, JCC displays only tabulated outbound vessel movement records cargo in the period, 2 June - 23 July 2023. Front-end data visualizations display only total metric tonnes (mt)/destination country/reporting period/yr since 1 Aug 2022. According to JCC, UA has exported a total 32.9M mt through the BSI which is far less than UA has claimed on any given date excluding exports by EU "solidarity lanes". Furthermore, you'd need a Bloomberg console to estimate how much revenue (USD) Ukraine ag "producers" earned from sales—RT claims $9B for H1 2023—which implies UA made out like bandits per tonne on all exports by profiteering and commodity speculation. NOT discounts. Incidentally, ROW producers, notably IN, AE, BR, and SA anticipated offshore "market distortion" last year, so restricted trading ostensibly to reserve (Q) stock for FTA-partners' demand.
Now, there's something you should know about Ukraine's agricultural land owners in the position of running G7 racketeering since RUSSIA'S WAR OF AGGRESSION started.
This report addresses this gap – identifying the interests controlling Ukraine’s agricultural land and presenting an analysis of the dynamics at play around land tenure in the country. This includes the highly controversial land reform that took place in 2021 as part of the structural adjustment program initiated under the auspices of Western financial institutions, after the installation of a pro-European Union (EU) government following the Maidan Revolution in 2014.
[...]
The largest landholders are a mix of oligarchs and a variety of foreign interests – mostly European and North American, including a US-based private equity fund and the sovereign fund of Saudi Arabia. All but one of the ten largest landholding firms are registered overseas, mainly in tax havens such as Cyprus or Luxembourg. Even when run and still largely controlled by an oligarch founder, a number of firms have gone public with Western banks and investment funds now controlling a significant amount of their shares....
Posted by: sln2002 | Jul 19 2023 21:14 utc | 46
I'm a farmer in Oz, and the price signal I get is that the world is not short of food. Demand is actually collapsing, I suspect.
Posted by: Grant | Jul 19 2023 21:16 utc | 47
Posted by: Grant | Jul 19 2023 21:16 utc | 48
Thank you Grant. Good comment.
Posted by: Digital Spartacus | Jul 19 2023 21:28 utc | 48
Read these docs before you type another word.
• Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports
compare to G7 press corpse representation of RF "obligations" and "security guarantees"; What's missing?
• Black Sea Grain Initiative Vessel Movements data set (xcel)
compare to G7 press corpse publicity of UA yields and BSI exports (excluding EU "solidarity lane" glut); What's missing?
• Ukrainian Grain Exported Through Tax-Avoiding ‘Shell Firms,’ Robbing Country of Wartime Revenue
compare to Oakland Institute analysis and "Russia is the aggressor" feature porn in G7 press to date
Now, comes Guterres who's been fronting UA calumny and his own duplicity in the UNGA. Here is his strongly worded letter addressed to V.Putin and V. Zelensk* who now demands an "extension" of BSI (a/k/a "Grain from Ukraine") services with Turkish navy escort.
Posted by: sln2002 | Jul 19 2023 21:36 utc | 49
@45 unimperator
Dark for the people, but bright for the leaders who can lead the people out of that darkness.
The future is decentralized, the future is feudal. It's a neofeudalfuture!
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 19 2023 21:41 utc | 50
A book I highly recommend is, "Oceans of Grain" by Scott Reynolds-its quite a tale but true.
Focusing on the Grain trade in the Black Sea from ancient times till the Russian Revolution.
"Globally Ukraine just isn't important at all."
USDA data says Ukraine #1 world exporter of sunflower oil and sunflower meal - an #4 in corn and #5 in wheat
https://www.fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-04/Ukraine-Factsheet-April2022.pdf
While I agree that the current news you focus on is propaganda to divert from the battlefield conditions, that doesn't mean there are not significant impacts, which will only get worse when the next round of crops are due (and flooding from dam break will have long term impacts on agriculture)..
Posted by: bill wolfe | Jul 19 2023 21:47 utc | 52
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 19 2023 21:00 utc | 45
The actual reason is to gain control and leverage over other countries, meaning EU countries.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Great point. Leverage. It's the intelligent way of saying 'power.'
I also wonder if after this is all over in Ukraine if the oligarchs will retain ownership of the land. In which case the entire operation is mainly about depopulating the zone since to the oligarchs it apparently doesn't make a dime's worth of difference which flag is technically flying over their property.
The international oligarch-tycoon class is rarely constrained by nation-state jurisdictional niceties any more. Which is why am not yet convinced that the tussle between 'China,' 'Russia' and 'US' etc. may not be all that significant in the larger/higher scheme of things.
@Marvin #27
You're not looking at the relevant data.
The wheat market is about who has wheat to sell. Sure, China is the largest wheat producer in the world, but it still needs to BUY more. Canada or Australia do not produce all that much, but with their relatively low population they have plenty available for export.
So you should not look at wheat production by country, you look at wheat export.
Posted by: J-B Moquelin | Jul 19 2023 22:02 utc | 54
Its all rank hypocritical dishonesty designed to further feed the narrative and allow those who do not want to see to maintain their own blindness until the next lie comes around. If enough lies are told then they can shorthand their narrative so that the lies don't even need to be told, a negative statement can be accepted without question.
B's post seems to concentrate on the financials of grain and its journey to pre-conflict prices. As such it rightly supports his point that Ukraine is slipping into irrelevance (not withstanding the conflict itself). I would argue that the more important position is to look at what occurred under the deal if only to highlight the real motivations of the ones who shout loudest about "the world's poor" as if they even give a damn.
The EU has gobbled up Ukrainian grain meant for Africa
The grain deal, intended to solve food crises in poor countries, is only serving to flood European marketsRemember all the talk about how critical it was to get Ukrainian and Russian grain shipped out of the country to feed the hungry in Africa and Asia? Well, it turns out that the EU has used the charity food drive to fill up its own fridge – and all to the net detriment of its own farmers.
While Ukrainian grains are pouring into the EU, Russian grain and fertilizer destined for Africa has been blocked by Western sanctions impacting shipping, insurance, and payments through the SWIFT system from which its Russian Agricultural Bank has been removed.
...
But it’s starting to look like all the hand-wringing was just a pretext to get more Ukrainian grain into the EU, with African countries getting just 1-2% each, according to the United Nations data for the Black Sea Grain Initiative.Until recently, anyone even suggesting that Ukrainian grain was largely heading to the EU was accused of peddling disinformation.
So while the West bleats and shouts about Russian inhumanity towards the worlds poor they take the Ukrainian grain to feed livestock, whilst at the same time preventing Russian grain and fertiliser from reaching its destination.
Almost half of the Ukrainian wheat and corn exports to the EU ended up feeding the pigs in Spain to produce the world-famous and expensive jamon, according to an investigation by the Austrian outlet eXXpress. The bloc ended up accounting for most of Kiev’s grain exports, even though the Black Sea corridor was advertised as a way to feed Africa and Asia.An estimated 2.9 million tons of wheat and corn from Ukraine ended up in Spain, where it was used as animal feed, the Austrian outlet said on Monday. According to eXXpress, only 15% of the exports ended up in the countries at risk of famine ...
“Spain paid more money – and Ukraine delivered,” the outlet said.
Moscow is not happy with the grain deal, either, as the portion that envisioned lifting the restrictions on Russian grain and fertilizer exports has simply been ignored by the West. The US and its allies say they never sanctioned these products. While that is technically true, their embargo has banned all Russian ships from docking in their ports, or accessing insurance and brokerage services, in effect imposing a total blockade on commercial shipping.
So what was the response of the Russian leader to the potential collapse of the grain deal in March 2023?
“If we nevertheless decide not to renew the deal after 60 days, then we are ready to deliver all the volume that was sent to the countries in Africa in particular need in the previous time from Russia to these countries for free”, the Russian leader said.
To my mind yes its all smoke and mirrors to hide the deceit of the West and their confected outrage on behalf of the poor. But the one saving grace is that it again highlights why the current declining system is doomed. The plebs in these countries may swallow it but the Global South is watching and have made their decision about what they need to do.
All this does in increase the desire to leave the West's sphere of influence for want of something better.
More than 30 countries want to join the BRICSSouth Africa’s representative to BRICS Ambassador Anil Sooklal has hinted that the grouping is set to grow bigger this year with more than 30 countries having formally and informally applied to join the alliance.
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 19 2023 22:05 utc | 55
This alleged plan to sail civilian ships to 'force' the blockade seems full of holes. The Russians don't have to shoot them, merely interdict and impound. I don't think there's a shipping company that would keep on sending free ships to the Russians in this manner.
And Ukraine's alleged propaganda campaign on the back of a hostile Russian response to the ships isn't likely to sway anyone nearly two years into the war. Ultimately, what are they going to do about it anyway, the Black Sea is a Russian lake.
Posted by: V87 | Jul 19 2023 22:12 utc | 56
This alleged plan to sail civilian ships to 'force' the blockade seems full of holes. The Russians don't have to shoot them, merely interdict and impound. I don't think there's a shipping company that would keep on sending free ships to the Russians in this manner.
And Ukraine's alleged propaganda campaign on the back of a hostile Russian response to the ships isn't likely to sway anyone nearly two years into the war. Ultimately, what are they going to do about it anyway, the Black Sea is a Russian lake.
Posted by: V87 | Jul 19 2023 22:12 utc | 57
Maybe resupply of 'marching powder' is why Kiev gets so many visitors with diplomatic immunity.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 19 2023 16:54 utc | 11
Yeah like especially all those Hollywood dopes slobbering all over their favourite fascist, Zelensky. Take for example Sean Penn, who hasn’t stopped sniffling and rubbing his nostrils since the late 70s.
Posted by: nwwoods | Jul 19 2023 22:40 utc | 58
@ sln2002 | Jul 19 2023 21:36 utc | 50 with the Guterres response to the Russia plans for the Black Sea...thanks....yes, he is tool like the others.
I think this next month before the BRICS+ meeting is going to top the interesting charts. Humanity is at war, what does one expect?
What happens to all the "Guterres" puppets when this is over? What about Fauci?
What about Pope Frank and King Chuck? Traitors to their species is what I say!
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 19 2023 22:41 utc | 59
To Grant @ 48 -
Appreciate your perspective. However, price depreciations have been used in the past by would-be monopolists to cull small producers, much more susceptible to even minor price swings, out of the market.
Posted by: Adriatic Hillbilly | Jul 19 2023 22:55 utc | 60
@ SattaMassaGana: Excellent SattaMassaGana comment, but do please identify the sources you quote!
@ Adriatic Hillbilly: A thousand times yes. One of the essential characteristics of capitalism, after all, is eliminating competition from the little guys.
Posted by: malenkov | Jul 19 2023 23:11 utc | 61
Posted by: Waymad | Jul 19 2023 19:37 utc | 35
Thanks for the link, Waymad . . . a thoroughly enjoyable and informative article.
Posted by: Ingolf Eide | Jul 19 2023 23:39 utc | 62
Interesting video from CNN:
Ex-Google CEO says he is shocked Russia excels at countering Ukrainian drones - CNN, July 16, 2023
The DJI Mavic 3 was the most effective drone at the start of the war. It costs 2000 euros in my local computer store. This week has seen a huge influx of Russian FPV kamikaze drones. The parts for the drone cost a few hundred dollars on AliExpress. Ukraine is also using thousands of these. On the CNN video, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says the cost for Ukraine is about $400.
The CNN video is about Russian electronic warfare. The CEO says he is shocked! I have been collecting sources on the topic for the last eight years.
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Jul 20 2023 0:00 utc | 63
-EU risked dismantling its own agricultural and farming sector on the basis that it would get cheap grain from Ukraine, which no longer applies
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 19 2023 16:28 utc | 5
-------------------------------------------------------------
Revenge is a dish best served cold. No more grain from Ukraine (by ship).
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jul 20 2023 0:01 utc | 64
@ canuck | Jul 19 2023 21:45 utc | 52
There was a French documentary, a few years old, on how Odesa was a hub for arming early Israelis in Palestine. Done via Czechoslovakian airplanes moving Israelis to be, and a deadly cargo to a promised land.
I have no source or a link, it was on the TV, I only caught that a director was French, maybe Belge.
On that interesting subject, I find that two truths are completely diametrically opposite. The online information is a bit obfuscated and when not using Wikipedia for a scenario, one comes to a different story.
Posted by: whirlX | Jul 20 2023 0:03 utc | 65
@ SattaMassaGana: Excellent SattaMassaGana comment, but do please identify the sources you quote!@ Adriatic Hillbilly: A thousand times yes. One of the essential characteristics of capitalism, after all, is eliminating competition from the little guys.
Posted by: malenkov | Jul 19 2023 23:11 utc | 62
Thanks malenkov, tried multiple times to post that comment but the comment wouldn't post. There were four links to articles and one to the WayBack Machine in the comment. Had to strip out the links to get it to post.
If anyone has any suggestions I've kept the links in a txt document so happy to post if I get a pointer or two.
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 20 2023 0:04 utc | 66
This alleged plan to sail civilian ships to 'force' the blockade seems full of holes. The Russians don't have to shoot them, merely interdict and impound. I don't think there's a shipping company that would keep on sending free ships to the Russians in this manner.
And Ukraine's alleged propaganda campaign on the back of a hostile Russian response to the ships isn't likely to sway anyone nearly two years into the war. Ultimately, what are they going to do about it anyway, the Black Sea is a Russian lake.
Posted by: V87 | Jul 19 2023 22:12 utc | 58
------------------------------------------------------------
Which ship owner and which insurance company will pay for intentionally putting both a ship and its cargo at risk?
That might discourage some cargo traffic, I suspect. Does Ukraine possess any ships capable of hauling grain? Z might promise to reimburse them if they run into one of his mines. Apparently, he does not know where he put them.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jul 20 2023 0:05 utc | 67
Pics.
Abrams tank could not wait for Ukraine …. Got firebombed in Australia
>…Highway partially reopens after multi-vehicle crash involving US tank
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-20/bruce-highway-partially-reopens-after-fiery-crash/102623750
One lane has reopened on the Bruce Highway this morning as investigators piece together the chain of events that led to a fiery multi-vehicle crash involving a US military tank in central Queensland.
The seven-vehicle crash happened near Bajool, south of Rockhampton, yesterday morning.
It involved multiple caravans, a B-double truck and a semi-trailer carrying a US army tank en route to a military exercise.
Three of the vehicles were on fire when police arrived.
Six people were taken to hospital.
Two remain in stable conditions and others have been discharged.
Inspector Carroll said police were still piecing together the cause of the crash but initial investigations suggest a passenger vehicle failed to stop for an escort vehicle accompanying the semi-trailer carrying the tank, causing a domino effect.
The tank was being transported from Gladstone port to the Shoalwater Bay training area for Exercise Talisman Sabre, a biennial training event involving Australian and US troops.
Truck driver Charitha Schivanka said he felt incredibly lucky to walk away from the crash.
"It all happened in a couple of seconds," he said.
"The first thing I did was get out of the truck … and there's a huge fire and one of the cabins is burning — it was really hard to see.
"It was massive, flames and tyres blasting.
"It was burning for a good couple of hours."
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jul 20 2023 0:07 utc | 68
The U.S. Congress must make war materiel production and transportation state property, without links to private investment (profiteering), so that Joint Force requirements govern acquisition and evaluation of war materiel from conception through design, production, testing, and distribution to deployment, assessment, improvement, and new conception. Profit motive, financial speculation, and financialization have no place in calculations of required force, national sovereignty, or national territorial integrity. War materiel production, par excellence, must subserve the national interest, not private ones. War materiel must be made to kill, not to sell.
Posted by: The Rev. David R. Gr | Jul 20 2023 0:13 utc | 69
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 20 2023 0:04 utc | 67
If anyone has any suggestions I've kept the links in a txt document so happy to post if I get a pointer or two.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Install a tinyurl extension in your browser. Works for anything, including this ZH article which otherwise could not be included:
Watch: National Security Head Says UFOs Having 'Real Impact' On USAF Pilots
@ SattaMassaGana: yeah, this site often rejects links. You can always do something like “in Matthew Ehret’s article “[title]” at Strategic Culture” or even give the link, breaking it with spaces or replacing the dots with the word “dot” (e.g. “rt dot com”). I’m sure we can figure it out from there. :-)
Posted by: malenkov | Jul 20 2023 0:17 utc | 71
'..a plan is being developed for cargo ships to pass through the ports of the Odessa region.
Please note that this information is based on an alleged insider information, so take it with a pinch of salt. Although it does seem plausible.
@DDGeopolitics
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 19 2023 19:03 utc | 26
---------------------------------------------------------
The Black Sea Grain Initiative; A Global Food Security Measure or a Political Chess Game? by @DDGeopolitics
------------------------------------------------------------
They swallowed the Western line about starving nations, hook, line and sinker.
I am steering well clear of them. In nautical flag parlance so appropriate to this topic, they have hoisted the letter 'D' i.e. 'Steer clear of me. I am dangerous.'
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jul 20 2023 0:18 utc | 72
What Scorpion said, or paraphrase: something like “Bhadrakumar’s most recent post at his Indian Punchline blog.” We can find it given that much.
Posted by: malenkov | Jul 20 2023 0:21 utc | 73
@ Melaleuca | Jul 20 2023 0:07 utc | 69
Long live Australian Partisans!
Crazy, but more of a gossip, was that in late 90's Oz Military had an anti-aircraft unit call-sign 'Boomerang'.
Posted by: whirlX | Jul 20 2023 0:25 utc | 74
Australia. Where one state cancels sporting (commonwealth) games, another happily hosts war *games*.
Doh.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-20/talisman-sabre-war-games-townsville-tent-city/102611442
Talisman Sabre military exercise brings foreign troops to Australia for war games
Thousands of troops from 13 countries have descended on Queensland for the Talisman Sabre war games, the largest to date.
The biennial military exercise involving Australia and the United States has expanded over the past decade to include military partners and observers from many more countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Tent cities have been set up to accommodate an influx of 30,000 troops across the state's north, which has become a hive of activity with armoured vehicles, warships and aircraft.
"It's the biggest, most ambitious military exercise Australia has conducted in recent memory," Commander of the Australian Army's Combat Training Centre, Colonel Ben McLennan, said.
"People have come from all over the world, equipment has come from all over the world, building up over months to get to this point."
The exercise is designed to strengthen international ties and test warfighting capabilities.
Military personnel from France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Indonesia and Pacific nations such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga are among those taking part.
Germans join the fold
For the first time, Germany has joined the exercise, sending 170 paratroopers to participate amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
>…[wot] [Germany… participates because… “rising tensions in Indo-pacific”.]
[surely there’s enough “rising tensions” in Europe (cough, cough, Ukraine, cough) to keep them occupied?]
German army chief, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, told the ABC the country wanted to boost its presence in the contested region.
"When the international rule-based order is under question or challenge I think it's good to get into contact with partners in order to understand what's going on, what are the dynamics and what are the key players?" Lt Gen. Mais said.
"That's why we are here.
"We want to send a message that we are interested in what's going on here, we want to portray ourselves as a reliable partner, where we share common values with Australia and other partners in the region."
Lieutenant General Mais said the new terrain would test the German soldiers.
"The German Army has never been in Australia and the environment here is completely different than in Central Europe… and the climate."
Tent cities
Much of the activity during Talisman Sabre will be concentrated around the Townsville Field Training Area.
Thousands of soldiers from participating countries will sleep side-by-side in a sprawling tent city called Camp Star.
Another tent city has been set up at Australia's largest army base – Lavarack Barracks in Townsville.
Talisman Sabre runs until August 4.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jul 20 2023 0:25 utc | 75
@ Scorpion | Jul 20 2023 0:13 utc | 71
Those protoNazis are wriggling now. Aliens made us do it.
Or what other excuse is there?
Posted by: whirlX | Jul 20 2023 0:29 utc | 76
Melaleuca @ 69:
Don't worry, I'm sure a way can be found to blame the lonely Russian embassy in Canberra for the multi-vehicle crash in Queensland.
Now we just have to pray for heavy rain and flooding to hit the area where Operation Talisman Sabre is being carried out.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Jul 20 2023 0:41 utc | 77
WhirlX @ 66:
It would be interesting to find out what Mikheil Saakashvili's role or supposed role might have been during the time he served as governor of Odesa oblast from May 2015 to November 2016. Saakashvili had been tasked to get rid of corruption in the port city itself. Did he quit when he discovered not only the extent of the corruption and what that involved (Odesa acting as a conduit for the illegal global arms trade) but also perhaps Kiev's involvement, or did he quit for other, more sordid reasons?
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Jul 20 2023 0:46 utc | 78
Install a tinyurl extension in your browser. Works for anything, including this ZH article which otherwise could not be included:Watch: National Security Head Says UFOs Having 'Real Impact' On USAF Pilots
Posted by: Scorpion | Jul 20 2023 0:13 utc | 71
Many thanks Scorpion ... much appreciated.
Links for my earlier comment - Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 19 2023 22:05 utc | 56
The EU has gobbled up Ukrainian grain meant for Africa
https://tinyurl.com/3s89skzc
Grain from Ukraine went to pigs in Spain – report
https://tinyurl.com/3xzdym7d
Vladimir Putin insists Russia will send free grain to African countries
https://tinyurl.com/hj5m4huc
More than 30 countries want to join the BRICS
https://tinyurl.com/3abe4wvb
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 20 2023 0:51 utc | 79
Posted by: J-B Moquelin | Jul 19 2023 18:25 utc | 15
----
UA is 12 percent of the total world wheat production
From Wikipedia, quantities in tonnes
Russia 37267014
United States 26131626
Canada 26110509
France 19792597
Australia 10400418
Argentina 10196931
Germany 9259493
Kazakhstan 5198943
Poland 4689130
Total, w/o UA 149046661
Ukraine 18055673 - approx 12% of the total above.
Posted by: daffyDuct | Jul 20 2023 1:10 utc | 80
Some videos for today.
Russian strike recorded in Odessa (likely one of the strikes hitting naval drone and port infrastructure targets):
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/odessa_1907:7
Russian Lancet destroys enemy SAM system in Avdeevka:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/video_2023-07-19_00-03-18:a
Russian drone strikes US-supplied Bradley infantry fighting vehicle:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/Drone_1807:5
Russian Ka-52s destroy more enemy armored vehicles:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/video_2023-07-19_13-48-58:c
The Kiev regime’s military continues getting decimated near the DPR’s Artemovsk:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/bmpp34s:3
Russian self-propelled howitzers fire on position containing Polish self-propelled howitzers:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/Msta_S_1907:1
Russian Black Sea Fleet destroys drifting Kiev regime naval mine:
https://rutube.ru/video/0c311d5e910dbf44786de31217558257/
Posted by: Nate | Jul 20 2023 1:14 utc | 81
do all the 'sticky bun' addicts a favor, give up whear products and go gluten free.. understand that proteins in the germ and gluten bind the glycophosphate (make guys gay in pregnancy) and other herbicides like the infamous atrazine (has a similar effect on girls). STAY SAFE and stay informed.
Posted by: T S | Jul 20 2023 1:20 utc | 82
@DDGeopolitics---How are these cargo ships going to get Maritime insurance? Probably never..So the EU would have to guarantee them...and who trusts the EU or the GAE?
Posted by: pyrrhus | Jul 20 2023 1:26 utc | 83
"Posted by: bill wolfe | Jul 19 2023 21:47 utc | 53
USDA data says Ukraine #1 world exporter of sunflower oil and sunflower meal - an #4 in corn and #5 in wheat
https://www.fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-04/Ukraine-Factsheet-April2022.pdf"
-----
Ranking doesn't quite matter - Ukraine, by that PDF you posted indicates UA supplies 3.5% of the world's corn, and 4.3% of the world's wheat. I thought they were 12% on wheat.
Regarding sunflower, Russia supplies an equal amount of sunflower products - i.e. 28% each for RU and UA (per below link). And many other countries produce less, but contribute to a 40% remaining share. So, 70% share of world supply doesn't come from Ukraine.
https://beef2live.com/story-ranking-countries-produce-sunflower-seeds-247-213647
Posted by: daffyDuct | Jul 20 2023 1:33 utc | 84
A lot of fear-mongering about a global famine is probably being driven by speculators trying to make a quick buck of widespread panic. The problem is that the market is not really rational, and their plan might work.
Posted by: Marcos E | Jul 20 2023 2:30 utc | 85
And besides that, contrary to what Americans seem to think, sunflower oil can be easily substituted by a myriad of other vegetable oils, including palm, corn, coconut and soybeans. Even if Ukraine was responsible for 100% of the world's sunflower production, it would not cause any problems.
Regarding sunflower, Russia supplies an equal amount of sunflower products - i.e. 28% each for RU and UA (per below link). And many other countries produce less, but contribute to a 40% remaining share. So, 70% share of world supply doesn't come from Ukraine.https://beef2live.com/story-ranking-countries-produce-sunflower-seeds-247-213647
Posted by: daffyDuct | Jul 20 2023 1:33 utc | 84
Posted by: Marcos E | Jul 20 2023 2:35 utc | 86
As I best understand it - which is to say not very well - the transport of grain cannot be carried out by Russian ships simply loading up and moving out, because Captain America has persuaded all firms to refuse to insure them.
How important is this, really? I know the USA loves to think the whole world waits with bated breath for it to speak on any issue. Are there no Russian firms which are able to insure their own nation's cargoes? Even if nobody would buy it, which is a stretch, Russian cargo ships could still carry humanitarian cargoes of grain already promised to African countries, which the UN currently dithers over for ages before they will allow it to be shipped. Fertilizer shipments were delayed so long that many African farmers had to plant without it, a completely avoidable crisis the farmers say will result in poor harvests.
Mark | Jul 20 2023 2:46 utc | 87
As I best understand it - which is to say not very well…
Yep. That’s #metoo. Or #metwo.
What I gleaned, while mostly eye-glazing over the details Great Grain Deception, of the past year .. the biggest obstacle to overcome is insurance.. with Lloyds of London having stitched up that monopoly centuries ago.
Perhaps BRICS could establish a collective/ “farmers cooperative” for shipping insurance… act to destabilise the tight little protection racket the old maritime pirate nations have over global shipping.
… Probably some barfly is an ex-merchant insurance broker who can now arrive to scoff at my naivety….
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jul 20 2023 4:23 utc | 88
Putin not attending BRICS in South Africa.
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/brics19:d
Lavrov attending instead
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jul 20 2023 4:41 utc | 89
Meanwhile Poland and others wants to extend ban on proxy 404 wheat.
Posted by: Suresh | Jul 20 2023 4:59 utc | 90
What the Anglophone "Free Press" carefully downplays or outright censors in their coverage about the Ukrainian grain deal is that the EUROPEAN UNION--not Africa or other "shithole nations," as Donald Trump lovingly called them--is the leading recipient of this grain.
So the Anglo-Americans and their stooges around the world are once again cynically shedding their usual crocodile tears about Third World nations to push their own propaganda narratives.
Here are the grain deal figures:
"The EU ‘garden’ got its large share of the grain, in fact a 13,636,108 metric tons of it, (38%) compared to the total shipments for Less Developed Countries (LDC): 1,896,077
EU: 13,636,108
LDC: 1,896,077
China: 7,963,950
The overall total of Ukrainian crops exported via the UN Grain Deal was: 32,9M metric tons. I’ll let you, the reader, do the number crunching, but it is telling. Yet:
UN chief says millions will pay the price for the collapse of the grain deal – AFP
Reminder from the very same UN:
■ 47% of Ukraine’s grain has gone to 'high-income countries' including Spain and Italy. (A lot of the grain went for livestock feed).
■ 26% to 'upper-middle income countries' such as Turkey and China
■ 27% to 'low and lower-middle income countries' such as Egypt and Sudan"
From:
"The Black Sea Grain deal — now what?"
https://globalsouth.co/2023/07/18/16406/
Posted by: ak74 | Jul 20 2023 5:18 utc | 91
This alleged plan to sail civilian ships to 'force' the blockade seems full of holes. The Russians don't have to shoot them, merely interdict and impound. I don't think there's a shipping company that would keep on sending free ships to the Russians in this manner.And Ukraine's alleged propaganda campaign on the back of a hostile Russian response to the ships isn't likely to sway anyone nearly two years into the war. Ultimately, what are they going to do about it anyway, the Black Sea is a Russian lake.
Posted by: V87 | Jul 19 2023 22:12 utc | 58
That's probably true. MI6 and Kuyiiv are probably planning to sink some empty cargo vessels as a demonstration somewhere near Odessa and claim it was - well - some poor African cargo ship. They are also probably planning to sabotage a NPP in Odessa or Khmelnitsky, as an act of revenge for the lost war. There are still plenty of idiots inside EUrope who believe the British narrative.
Posted by: Suresh | Jul 20 2023 4:59 utc | 90
That is very funny. This bloc led by Poland approves that the Ukrainian wheat go through their territory but they won't accept it staying there. Ukrainian grain having to move on wheels large distances mean food prices in Eurozone go up faster than before.
The thing is, EU could also previously repackage the Ukrainian grain and even send it as humanitarian aid back to Ukraine, Africa or Asia. It was a method of soft power for the EU, which no longer can be afforded.
Posted by: unimperator | Jul 20 2023 5:20 utc | 92
At least 1 Odessa couple welcomed the Russian arrivals with cheers:Posted by: Mary | Jul 19 2023 19:27 utc
The guy has been captured by the SBU.
Posted by: Apollyon | Jul 20 2023 6:57 utc | 93
There is only one realistic scenario for Europe: restore relations with Russia and negotiate solid mutual security guarantees. If Russia remains outside a pan-European security architecture, peace will not return to the continent. The West realises that peace is only possible with a neutral Ukraine. It would appear that the final round is about to begin. Russia wins, the Ukrainian people are the big losers. Zelensky will go down in history as an American puppet who has 350,000 dead Ukrainians on his conscience, and who lost land and resources to Russia because he refused to sign the moderate agreement with Russia in March 2022.
These are the key issues in my latest article: “The Vilnius Summit: Will NATO Drop Ukraine?” Now online at https://geopolitiekincontext.wordpress.com/2023/07/20/de-top-in-vilnius-laat-de-navo-oekraine-vallen/
Posted by: Paul-Robert | Jul 20 2023 7:05 utc | 94
For the record, Paraguay had a bumper year in crop production in 2023, so bye-bye Ukraine. Nobody needs you.
Posted by: Sam (in Tiraspol) | Jul 20 2023 7:08 utc | 95
LOL[...]
A suspected drone strike [...] killed a young girl in northwest Crimea on Thursday morning
Posted by: Ghost of Arch Bungle
Get lost.
Posted by: Apollyon | Jul 20 2023 7:23 utc | 96
Posted by: Ghost of Arch Bungle | Jul 20 2023 7:19 utc | 96
The combined military and technological might of the West and that's all they can do?
Pathetic really.
1 young girl?
Who cares?
Billions more where she came from.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jul 20 2023 7:27 utc | 97
Depopulation news:
https://t.me/llordofwar/176114
🇦🇺🇺🇦🇷🇺 An Australian TV channel showed a story about foreign mercenaries fleeing Ukraine: they are simply afraid.“What is it like on the front lines now? At the zero line?
- At "zero" horror. Just awful. It's just genocide. It's creepy there. Dead people everywhere. Corpses of Ukrainian soldiers. They were just left there. Just left there and I don't know why.
Posted by: anon2020 | Jul 20 2023 8:05 utc | 99
Posted by: ak74 | Jul 20 2023 5:18 utc | 91
Personally, I'm partial to Spanish jamon and Italian Parma ham, but still:
As part of the UN grain deal, Ukrainian grain was used as feedstock for Spanish pigs.
Some might feel offended over giving food to an impure animal, while people risk starving.
Does nobody in the UN think anymore?
Posted by: Passerby | Jul 20 2023 8:23 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
That is exactly my suspicion. Noone in the "West" knew anything about any Ukrainian products before 2022 and after that they seem to be everywhere. That's ridiculous and just a distraction from the back-hitting sanctions and the broad political failure.
Posted by: xblob | Jul 19 2023 16:19 utc | 1