Russia has yet to decide whether to agree to an extension of Ukraine’s grain deal, which expires in just over two weeks, the Kremlin said on Thursday, indicating it would first assess its impact.
Russia’s recent decision to return to the deal, which it briefly pulled out of, does not mean it wants to extend it beyond November 19, which is the current deadline, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned.
“The deadline has not yet passed (…). Before deciding to proceed, it will be necessary to conduct an assessment before 19 (November) of the effectiveness of the agreement, how the parameters have been implemented”, added the Russian spokesman.
The agreement, signed in July under the auspices of the UN and Turkey, made it possible to unblock exports of Ukrainian grains, which have been hampered by Moscow’s offensive in that country.
However, Russian officials regularly complain about continued barriers to their own grain and fertilizer exports due to Western sanctions, believing the agreement is not being adhered to as far as Russia is concerned.
During a trip to Jordan this week, Russia’s head of diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, echoed those criticisms, calling for “serious action” to remove “barriers” to Russian exports.
Last weekend, Moscow suspended its participation in the agreement after attacks on Russian ships in the Black Sea. The Kremlin finally decided on Wednesday to return to the agreement after negotiations led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Peskov assured that the Kremlin had received “assurances” that Kiev would not use the corridor that allows grain ships to attack Moscow, assuming that Turkey’s presence in the talks was “the most important confidence factor for Russia”.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Moscow could pull out of the deal again if those “guarantees” are breached.
Source: DN
