INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
President Vladimir Putin denied Thursday that Russia bore any responsibility for a looming global food crisis due to the conflict in
Ukraine.Ukraine, a major exporter of grain, especially corn and wheat, has seen its production blocked by Moscow's military offensive,
sparking a surge in prices and fears of food shortages that will particularly affect the poorest countries."We have not put any restrictions
on the export of fertilizers, nor on the export of food products," Putin said as he welcomed Indonesian leader Joko Widodo, whose country
He said that by targeting the owners of fertilizer companies, Western sanctions have "created conditions that made it much more difficult"
Kremlin announced this week that it had "responded positively" to the invitation to the G20 summit to be held in Bali, Indonesia, in
November, suggesting that Putin would attend in person.Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, however, said after a G7 summit where Widodo was
visited Ukraine on Wednesday.
