Russia has announced that the West must fulfill several conditions in order to be able to extend the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports.
The agreement, which was concluded last July through Turkey and the UN, has allowed Ukraine to export grain during the war, but Russia, whose economy has been hit hard by Western sanctions, has repeatedly threatened to break this agreement if obstacles to Russian exports are not removed.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it is difficult to talk about extending the agreement after May 18 if “Moscow does not see any progress”.
Russia is not sanctioned for exporting food and fertilizer to world markets, but the problems are related to secondary sanctions imposed on shipping and insurance companies, as well as banks.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlined a series of conditions for the extension of Ukraine’s grain export agreement, including requesting to allow the Agricultural Bank of Russia to reconnect to the SWIFT payment system.
Russia has also demanded the resumption of deliveries of agricultural machinery and their spare parts and the resumption of ammonia shipments through the Tolyatti-Odesa pipeline.
Russia also demanded the lifting of restrictions on insurance and access to ports, as well as sanctions on companies involved in the production and transportation of food and fertilizers.
The agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports has allowed the export of more than 27 million tons of grain and agricultural products since July. The agreement has been extended twice.
When it was extended in March, Russia said it would remain in effect for another 60 days.
