Blinken has no plans to meet with Lavrov on ‘grain agreement’ – State Department

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has no plans to hold personal talks with the Russian Foreign Minister, including to renew the grain deal.

This was stated at a press briefing by US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

“There are currently no plans for a meeting that I know of,” he said when asked whether such a meeting could take place during the opening of the new UN General Assembly in September.

At the same time, he emphasized that Russia should return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and this is being called for not only by the United States, but also by Turkey and African countries.

“So we’re going to continue with this,” Miller emphasized.

Earlier, Blinken said that Brazil could influence Russia to return to the Black Sea Grain Agreement, which was previously concluded under the mediation of the UN and Turkey.

The State Department also emphasized that the United States would not ease pressure on Russia to return to the grain deal.

As reported, after July 17, 2023, when Russia unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, its army began systematically destroying Ukrainian port infrastructure.

On July 19, the Russians destroyed 60,000 tons of grain destined for China. Then, from July 19 to July 23, Russia attacked Odesa and ports on the Black Sea coast with missiles and drones every day, and then moved on to ports on the Danube: On July 24, it attacked the port of Reni, and on August 2, it attacked the port of Izmail.

Tags: USA, Black Sea grain deal, Russia