Russia ‘yes’ to 60-day grain export deal
Published on: Wednesday, March 15, 2023
By: AFP
The Black Sea Grain Initiative has helped soothe the global food crunch triggered by the conflict. More than 24.1 million tonnes have been exported so far under the agreement.
GENEVA: The United Nations said Tuesday that “consultations” were continuing after Russia agreed to extend a vital Ukraine grain export deal, but only for a further 60 days, instead of the usual 120.“The United Nations will do everything possible to preserve the integrity of the agreement and ensure its continuity,” Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, told reporters, adding that “the consultations... with all parties, and various levels continue.”ADVERTISEMENT
Following talks with the United Nations in Geneva earlier, Moscow said it would not oppose prolonging the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative aimed at easing the global food crisis, as had been feared.
But it only agreed to extending the deal for half of the 120-day period of the original accord.
Ukraine warned that “contradicts” the original agreement but did not reject the proposal.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 saw Ukraine’s Black Sea ports blocked by warships until the deal, signed in July, allowed for the safe passage of exports of critical grain supplies.ADVERTISEMENT
Ukraine was one of the world’s top producers and the Black Sea Grain Initiative has helped soothe the global food crunch triggered by the conflict.
More than 24.1 million tonnes have been exported so far under the agreement, according to the UN.
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The initial 120-day agreement struck with the UN and Turkey was extended for a further 120 days in November, until March 18.
The Kremlin had cast doubt on whether it would agree to any fresh extension, citing concerns that the twin deal on Russian exports was not being respected.
It said Monday it needed to see “tangible progress” on the parallel agreement on unhindered Russian food and fertiliser exports, claiming Western sanctions exemptions were “essentially inactive”.
Moscow wants to see deeds, not words on upholding the second part of the package, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said after Monday’s talks with top United Nations officials at the Palais des Nations UN headquarters in Geneva.
“The Russian side... does not object to another extension of the ‘Black Sea Initiative’ after its second term expiration on March 18, but only for 60 days,” Vershinin said in a statement.
“Our further stance will be determined upon the tangible progress on normalisation of our agricultural exports, not (in) words, but in deeds.
“It includes bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, unfreezing of financial activities and ammonia supplies via the Tolyatti-Odessa pipeline.”
Ukraine’s infrastructure minister said that Russia’s stance went against the agreement, but did not reject Moscow’s 60-day proposal.
Vershinin led the Russian delegation in the talks, joining with UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths and Rebeca Grynspan, head of the UN’s trade and development agency UNCTAD.
While the agreement concerns the export of Ukrainian grain, the second agreement, between Moscow and the UN, is intended to facilitate the export of Russian food and fertilisers.
These are exempt from Western sanctions imposed on Moscow.
Around 45 percent of the exports went to developed countries. The biggest recipient was China, followed by Spain, Turkey, Italy and the Netherlands.
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