Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that if Western countries continue not to fulfill part of the grain deal for exports from Russia, then the forecast for an extension of the agreement will be pessimistic. The implementation of an optimistic forecast, according to her, can be achieved if the grain deal is carried out in two directions. Earlier today, on March 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that the agreement includes “two components: the safe export of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea from Ukrainian ports and the necessary removal of all obstacles to the export of Russian grain and Russian fertilizers.”
“A package deal in this case implies two directions, two tracks – both of them must be carried out. We are doing our best to guarantee the execution of two tracks, two directions of this transaction, in this case the forecast is optimistic. If it will fall endlessly at the peak in terms of non-fulfillment of the second part of the deal, then the forecast is pessimistic, ”said Maria Zakharova during the the briefing.
According to Ms. Zakharova, the next rounds of consultations on the extension of the grain deal with the participation of the Russian delegation will be held on March 13 in Geneva. They will be attended by the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and Secretary General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development Rebeca Greenspan.
The Russian side has repeatedly criticized the implementation of the agreement on the export of grain from Ukrainian ports, including because of the volume of grain supplies to poor countries. It expires March 18th. Negotiations to extend the grain deal were to begin at the end of February. The United Nations and the United States called for an extension and expansion of the agreement.
For more information regarding Moscow’s claims to the execution of the grain deal, see the material “Kommersant FM” “New conditions set for the grain deal.”
