The Russian Federation is ready to extend the “grain deal” for only 60 days. Ukraine objects

Russia is ready to extend the so-called grain deal on the export of grain from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, but only for 60 days, and not for 120, as other participants of the agreement insist. This was stated by the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Vershinin, after talks in Geneva with high-ranking UN officials on Monday.

“The Russian side, emphasizing the “package” nature of the Istanbul agreements proposed by UN Secretary-General Guterres, does not object to another extension of the “Black Sea Initiative” after the end of the second term on March 18, but only for 60 days,” the statement said. It also says that Moscow’s future position will depend on “progress in the normalization of agricultural exports” from Russia, “unfreezing” of financial activity and the supply of ammonia via the Tolyatti-Odessa pipeline.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, stated that Russia’s position contradicts the documents signed together with the UN and Turkey. How wrote Kubrakov on Twitter, the agreement stipulates that it should be extended for 120 days.

A representative of the US State Department said on Monday that now – five days before the expiration of the “grain deal” – a critical moment has come for its extension.

The agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was concluded separately by Russia and Ukraine with the UN and Turkey in Istanbul last July. It provides a mechanism for the export of grain and other food products from Ukrainian ports. Until July, after Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine, the ports of Ukraine were completely blocked, the UN and many countries declared that the blockade of food exports from the country could lead to global consequences, up to famine in the poorest countries.

In November, the agreement was extended for another 120 days. The Russian side claims that it does not work to the full extent, since the export of food from Russia itself is still limited due to sanctions. At the same time, supplies of food and fertilizer were not subject to sanctions, but there are difficulties with insurance and financial support for the export of cargo from Russian ports.