UN proposes Ukraine, Russia and Turkey to start negotiations on Russian ammonia exports

The United Nations proposes that Kyiv, Moscow and Ankara begin preparatory work for the transit of Russian ammonia through Ukraine, Reuters reports.

The United Nations also wants to see negotiations on expanding the grain initiative to include more Ukrainian ports and other cargoes.

This month, Russia agreed to a two-month extension of the grain deal, but said the initiative would end if a demand aimed at overcoming obstacles to Russian grain and fertilizer exports is not met.

Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to a new proposal aimed at improving the Black Sea grain export corridor, but Russia has not yet responded, the source said.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the talks are ongoing.

“As you may recall, the Secretary-General put forward a number of ideas to the parties to improve the work of the Joint Coordination Center, and also instructed them to work on the issue of ammonia exports, which is part of the signed agreement,” Dujarric said.

The UN handed over an “official appeal to the leaders of Ukraine, Turkey and Russia with a proposal for a specific mutually beneficial algorithm for radical improvement” of the grain corridor, a source told Reuters.

“Ukraine and Turkey have confirmed their readiness to work according to the algorithm proposed by the Secretary General. At the same time, as of May 30, Russia has not given its consent, despite the presence of favorable positions in the algorithm,” the publication notes.

As a reminder, on May 17, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the Black Sea Grain Corridor had been extended for two months. Shortly afterward, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar said that the “grain deal” did not provide for the satisfaction of any of Russia’s needs.

Meanwhile, after the grain corridor reopened, Russia continued to block the Pivdennyi port. Therefore, Ukraine called on Turkey and the UN to influence the aggressor country. The UN even “expressed concern” that the Ukrainian port has not received a single ship since May 2.

Tags: Russia, fertilizers, Ukraine