Russia today affirmed that it saw “no reason” to extend the food pact, which expires this month and will allow grain exports from Ukraine to supply much of the world.
“Under these conditions, it is obvious that there is no reason to continue.” [el acuerdo] which expires on July 17,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, AFP news agency reported.
On July 22, 2022, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations signed an agreement to revive exports of Ukrainian grain and Russian fertilizers, which had been blocked by hostilities and Western sanctions against Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine.
On the same day, at the same place in Istanbul, representatives of the Ukrainian government signed a similar document with Turkey and representatives of the United Nations.
Since then, the agreement has been extended three times, most recently by two months on May 17.
In particular, Moscow laments that its agricultural sector, one of the world’s largest producers, has been hit by Western sanctions that “block Russian agricultural exports.”
Russia understands five conditions are met for the extension, including reconnecting its agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank to the Swift system and resuming deliveries of agricultural machinery, spare parts and maintenance.
It also calls for the lifting of the ban on access to ports and the release of foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to the production and transport of food and fertilizers.
It also calls for the reactivation of a pipeline transporting ammonia from Togliatti in Russia to the southern Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odessa, which is idle due to the war.
Russia insists that these conditions have not been met, although it is obliged to comply with the agreement.
In addition, in early June Russia lamented the destruction of a section of the pipeline by explosives and accused Ukraine of doing so. Ukraine refused, blaming Russia.
The Kremlin said the attack on the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline threatened to have a “negative impact” on negotiations to extend the grain export deal.
(telam)