Future of Black Sea grain deal depends on meeting existing conditions, says Lavrov
The future of the vital Black Sea grain deal depends on meeting existing terms, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.
The deal ensures safe passage for ships carrying Ukraine’s grain exports, which are key to the world’s food supply, but is set to expire at the end of this month.
The first term, Lavrov said, is “the export of Ukrainian grain and it takes place following the Armed Forces of Ukraine used the humanitarian corridor for the export of grain for military purposes.”
Russia withdrew from the agreement in late October, citing drone attacks on the city of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea as the reason for its withdrawal from the agreement.
Russia blamed Ukraine for the Sevastopol attacks. Ukraine has not confirmed that its forces have attacked the city.
“We suspended this operation, but then the Ukrainians confirmed that they will not do this once more. So our Turkish and Western colleagues understand that they must prevent Ukraine from doing these things,” Lavrov said.
The second term, according to Lavrov, is “to remove barriers to the export of Russian grain.”
Lavrov praised United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said he was doing “everything he might.”
“But five months have passed and no real results have been achieved,” Lavrov said. “This is not regarding promises. We need to see some action.”
“The UN Secretary General assures us, citing his Western colleagues, that all the economic operators that are securing the logistics supply chains of fertilizers and grains from Russia assure him that no sanctions will be imposed in the implementation of trade agreements for our grain, including the entry of Russian ships into European ports, and the entry of foreign ships into our ports,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov said he expects the UN to keep its promises, especially since Guterres himself “said it is a matter of principle,” according to Lavrov.
Some background: The agreement established a procedure that ensured the safety of ships carrying grain, fertilizer and other Ukrainian food through a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea.
Under the agreement, all ships arriving and leaving Ukrainian ports were inspected and monitored by international teams made up of officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN.
