Russian officials have confirmed the extension of a deal to export grain through Ukrainian ports until July 18, though they have warned they will pull out of the deal if sanctions on their fertilizer exports are not lifted.
“Until these requirements are met, there is no question of any expansion of the Black Sea Initiative in principle, and the agreement itself will expire after July 17 this year,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said this year. initially said in a statement on Thursday.
Thus, Russia has demanded that the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, which are only “verbally concerned about food security”, withdraw sanctions imposed on the export of Russian fertilizers, in addition to agricultural exports. products from Ukrainian ports included in the agreement.
Similarly, Russian diplomacy has sought to reconnect the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the SWIFT payment system, unblock supplies of spare parts and agricultural logistics, remove assets of Russian companies, and restart the ammonia pipeline between Tolyatti and Moscow. has demanded. , in central Russia, and Odessa, in southwestern Ukraine.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed on Wednesday that, with Russian and Ukrainian officials, he had reached an agreement to extend by two months the agreement for the export of Ukrainian grain and Russian fertilizers through the Black Sea.
Russian officials have repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction with the treaty, noting that, while Ukrainian interests are respected, exports of its fertilizers are not being included in the original agreement, which took place in July 2022. .
As such, it was one of the main hurdles to be overcome only two months ago, when Turkey, the United Nations, Russia and Moscow secured a new extension of the agreement, which was already on the verge of expiring in ‘extremity’. Was. While the United Nations assured that the extension was for 120 days, Moscow defended that it was only for 60.
