The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday acknowledged the existence of obstacles in the export of Russian food and fertilizers, particularly in the “payment systems”, a situation that led Moscow to extend the grain deal for just 60 days.
In a statement, the UN stressed that its teams, as well as the organization’s secretary-general, António Guterres, “spared no effort to facilitate trade in Russian food and fertilizers,” covered by a memorandum of understanding signed parallel to the grain deal. is signed. in July 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey.
“Significant progress has been made, but it is true that there are still some obstacles, namely regarding payment systems. Our efforts to overcome these obstacles will continue unabated,” said Guterres spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
The UN stressed that in the context of the Black Sea grain deal, the initially negotiated extension was 120 days, but, the organization stressed, “in the current circumstances, the Secretary-General and his team are focused, in close contact with all parties , to do everything possible to ensure the continuity of the initiative”.
Russia today extended the agreement for the export of grain from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, which was due to expire next Saturday, for 60 days.
“In fact, the agreement has been extended. The extension has been agreed to 60 days,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr Grushko told state news agency TASS.
At the same time, the Russian diplomat stressed that Moscow will insist that the promises made to Russia are kept when the agreement is signed.
“It is about lifting all sanctions, direct and indirect, on the supply of Russian agricultural products to international world markets,” Grushko stressed.
Ukraine’s infrastructure minister Oleksander Kubrakov said on Monday that Russia’s proposal to extend the grain export deal for just 60 days is in violation of what was signed last July.
“The agreement implies an extension of at least 120 days. The Russian position contradicts the document signed by Turkey and the UN,” Kubrakov said on the social network Twitter.
The Ukrainian minister then emphasized that Ukraine would wait for the United Nations and Turkey, partners in the agreement, to position themselves on the Russian proposal.
Ukraine, the UN and Turkey agreed with Moscow on November 17 last year to extend the “Initiative for Safe Transport of Agricultural Products across the Black Sea” agreement for a period of 120 days.
This agreement has helped alleviate the global food crisis caused by the war unleashed since February 2022 by the Russian military offensive.
About 20 million tons of grain were exported under this agreement.
Source: DN
