Russia’s foreign minister said on Friday that he sees no reason to extend the grain deal that allows exports from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea because the initiative is no longer humanitarian, but commercial in nature.
“I do not see what arguments those who want to extend the validity of this Black Sea initiative can have, because as far as Ukrainian grains are concerned, it has long since become a commercial initiative,” Sergei Lavrov stated at a press conference.
The head of Russian diplomacy indicated that since the grain deal came into effect, two ships a month sail from Ukrainian ports for the UN’s World Food Program (WFP), with shipments for countries in need, and about 90 for commercial purposes. .
He also added that of the more than 32.5 million tons of Ukrainian grains exported, only 2.5% went to needy countries, while 40% went to the European Union (EU), 24% to China and 10% went to Turkey.
In May, Moscow agreed to extend the grain agreement for only two months, until July 17, and made subsequent participation conditional on the fulfillment of commitments in the Russia-UN memorandum.
At stake are the reconnection of the Russian agricultural bank, Rosselkhoznadzor, to the Swift financial system, the supply of spare parts for agricultural machinery to Russia, the unblocking of transport and insurance logistics, the start of ammonia exports via Ukraine and access to frozen Russian goods.
Lavrov said this Friday that no progress has been made on these issues so far.
The minister also reiterated that, in the event that the grain agreement is not renewed, Russia will provide countries in need free of charge with equal or greater amounts of grain than they receive under the Black Sea initiative.
Source: DN
