Russia insists that Western sanctions imposed on it because of the war in Ukraine prevent the export of its own grain, fertilizer and other food products, so the deal remains unenforceable.
The Russian government considers it unlikely to extend the agreement allowing the export of Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports, despite a letter received by Russian President Vladimir Putin from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed yesterday that the letter had reached President Putin, but added that Moscow was seeing no progress.
He explained that Russian fertilizer industries are unable to export their products.
Russia insists that Western sanctions imposed on it because of the war in Ukraine prevent the export of its own grain, fertilizer and other food products, so the deal remains unenforceable.
Mr. Putin urged Mr. Guterres to pursue unimpeded shipping to transport grain and fertilizer from Russia abroad. It is impossible to insure ships and make payments as most Russian banks face sanctions.
These obstacles, Russian presidential spokesman Peskov insisted, make it unlikely that the agreement will be extended beyond May 18.
For their part, the Ukrainian authorities have recently complained that they are facing obstruction of grain ships departing from Black Sea ports.
The Initiative for the Safe Export of Grain and Food from Ukrainian Ports, or the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was renewed for the second time on March 19. But Russia insisted that the extension last 60 days, not 120.
In mid-April, and again on Monday, Moscow threatened to end the deal on May 18 if its conditions were not met, notably if it did not remove barriers to its own agricultural exports and reconnect to its SWIFT international banking system. of Russian bank Rosselkhozbank, which specializes in agricultural transactions.
When the war began, Russia imposed a blockade on Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea for months, preventing grain exports, raising concerns about the outbreak of famine both in Ukraine itself and in developing countries. Ukraine and Russia are among the world’s most important grain exporters: they accounted for almost a quarter of the quantities available globally before the armed conflict broke out.
Source :Skai
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