Russia does not want to renew the grain deal with Ukraine. The current deal, which allows Ukraine to ship grain across the Black Sea despite the war, expires May 18. Ukraine wants more pressure on Russia.
The previous term of the grain deal expired in March. Until just before the end of that term, extension of the agreement was uncertain.
Russian government officials then announced that Russia wanted to take advantage of an extension. For example, the country wanted fewer international export restrictions on Russian food and fertilizer in exchange for an extension.
The Kremlin said in a statement on Tuesday that Russia has not yet received that advantage. Furthermore, the country downplays the impact of the deal on the global food supply.
The grain deal was created in the summer of 2022 to prevent a food crisis. Such a crisis could arise if many countries can no longer import Ukrainian grain.
UN chief spoke to Russian minister about deal
On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres proposed improving and even expanding the deal. He spoke about this on Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. But judging by Tuesday’s statement, Russia does not seem ready for this yet.
Ukraine hopes that other countries will put pressure on Russia to accept UN proposals for an extension. “That is the only way that attempt can succeed,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Tuesday.
Ukraine, meanwhile, is continuing grain shipments according to agreements with Turkey and the United Nations, he said.
2023-04-25 12:28:53
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