As weather warms, Russia is using wheat rather than energy to try to end economic sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.

Marlene Boersh with Mercantile Consulting Venture compiles the weekly market report for the Sask Wheat Development Commission.

She says Russia refused a UN request for export corridors for Ukrainian wheat shipments.

Boersch says Russia wants the lifting of all sanctions before discussing an export corridor for Ukraine wheat.

Boersch says if the war continues, much of the Ukrainian crop will be lost to world trade and global crop production will suffer from lack of fertilizer supplies.

She says Russian president Putin tried holding the West hostage to oil and gas in the early days of the war, and now seems to be weaponizing food.

Boersch says the war could be lengthy because Russia wants to retain Crimea and Donbass, and Ukraine says it will not agree to giving up territory.
—-