US says Russia is about to return to Black Sea grain deal
(Baonghean.vn) - US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Russia is ready to negotiate to resume the Black Sea grain agreement.
“We have been told that Russia is ready to return to the grain deal. However, there is no clear evidence of this yet. Although the chances of returning are slim, I am still hopeful about it,” said Linda.
Responding to information from the US representative, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow is ready to immediately return to the agreement, after Russia's conditions are met.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations Food Systems Summit on July 24, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said that there are currently no discussions between Russia and the countries involved about resuming the Black Sea Grain Agreement.
"We have made our position clear. We are against extending the Black Sea Grain Agreement beyond July 17," Tass quoted Deputy Minister Vershinin as saying.
Deputy Minister Vershinin also recalled that the second part of the grain deal – a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations to facilitate Russian grain and food exports – had not been implemented.
The Russian diplomat asserted that the Black Sea Grain Agreement cannot be restored without Moscow's participation.
Alexei Polishchuk, director general of the Commonwealth of Independent States, said the essence of the agreements and their original humanitarian goal of providing food to the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East had been overlooked.
“While the agreement was in force, Ukrainian-controlled ports and the humanitarian corridor at sea were used for provocations and attacks on Russian military and civilian facilities,” Polishchuk said.
Ukraine’s Western allies have urged Kiev to actively use alternative routes, called “solidarity corridors.” However, the situation on these corridors is not easy for Ukraine either. Neighboring countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland have agreed to let Ukrainian grain transit, but have refused to accept it, saying it would put competitive pressure on domestic grain. These countries have even called for extending the ban on Ukrainian grain imports.
