Vladimir Putin ‘will lift blockade of grain ports’

President Putin has assured Germany and France that he will lift a blockade of Ukraine’s ports to allow the export of grain and other vital foods, according to a spokesman for Olaf Scholz.

The pledge was made on Saturday in an 80-minute telephone call with the German chancellor and President Macron of France. The leaders “discussed the global food situation, which is particularly tense as a result of the Russian war of aggression”, the spokesman said. “Putin assured them of his intention to allow the export of grain from Ukraine, especially by sea.”

If Ukraine opened a channel in the mines that had been laid to protect ports such as Odesa, then Russia would not use the corridors to attack, Putin promised.

The offer was confirmed by an Élysée spokesman — but Russia’s account of the talks was markedly different. A Kremlin spokesman said Russia had agreed only to be “ready to contribute to finding options for unimpeded grain exports” if sanctions were lifted on Russian food or fertiliser products.

 “Increased supplies of Russian fertilisers and agricultural products which, of course, will require the lifting of relevant sanctions, will also help to ease tensions on the global food market,” the spokesman said.

A meeting of European leaders in Brussels today will commit the bloc “to accelerate work to facilitate food exports from Ukraine via different land routes and EU sea ports”. A draft diplomatic text “calls on Russia to lift the blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports and to allow food exports, in particular from Odesa”.

Food prices in Europe and farther afield have rocketed since Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, which is a leading grain exporter, with further disruption caused by western sanctions on Russia’s agriculture and fertiliser sectors.

Southern European countries, especially Italy, fear that the impact of the food crisis in the Middle East and Africa will increase illegal migration in the Mediterranean and will hit living standards for poorer households in Europe.

EU leaders are expected to struggle to maintain unity over energy sanctions and the possible deal with Putin on food corridors at today’s meeting.