MOSCOW. July 19 (Interfax) - The United Nations sincerely sought the implementation of the entire grain deal but failed to have all its provisions fulfilled, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"I believe that UN staff sincerely wanted the West to honor its commitments but were unable to get anything done," Putin said at a meeting with government members on Wednesday.
"[The West] did practically nothing for the deal's normal operation, but our so-called Western partners spared no effort to derail the deal," he went on to say.
Western nations "did everything to derail it [the deal]," Putin said.
"And today, as our people say, with a straight face, they are essentially lying to the whole world when they say that Russia allegedly is to blame for the collapse of this deal," he said.
Russia is accused of "all disasters facing the population of African and some other countries," he said.
Western countries "were shamelessly cashing in on the grain deal. They totally perverted the meaning and essence of the agreements," he said.
"We extended this deal again and again. Prolonging it, we showed the miracles of perseverance and patience, and tolerance. We were expecting that our foreign colleagues would finally begin honoring the agreed and approved parameters and conditions fully. But nothing of the sort happened," he said.
"They were constantly demanding Russia do something, do one thing and then another, provide one thing, a second one, a third one. Blatant arrogance and impertinence," he said.
Western nations "only compromised themselves" and "derailed the authority of the UN Secretariat leadership" by their actions, Putin said.