Russia agrees to extend grain deal, but only for 60 days

Russia does not oppose the extension of the grain agreement, but only for 60 days, the further position will be determined depending on the real progress regarding the normalization of Russian agricultural exports.

This was stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin.

“The Russian side, noting the “package” nature of the Istanbul agreements proposed by UN Secretary General António Guterres, does not object to another extension of the “Black Sea Initiative” at the end of the second term on March 18, but only for 60 days,” Vershinin said in a comment.

“Our further position will be determined depending on real, not in words but in deeds, progress on the normalization of Russian agricultural exports, including bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, “unfreezing” of financial activities and the supply of ammonia through the Tolyatti-Odessa pipeline,” MIDRF.

According to him, the conversation confirmed that “while the commercial export of Ukrainian products is carried out at a steady pace, bringing considerable profit to Kiev, there are still barriers on the way of Russian agricultural exporters.

Another round of consultations of the Russian interdepartmental delegation with the UN representatives headed by Rebecca Greenspan, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary General and Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, took place.

The grain agreement was concluded in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. The UN, Ukraine, Turkey and Russia signed two documents on creating a corridor for grain exports from three Ukrainian ports (Chornomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny) and on removing barriers to exports of Russian food and fertilizers.

The agreement expires on March 18. Previously, the grain agreement was extended for 120 days.

Tags: Russia, grain corridor