The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, answered a journalist’s question about the position of the Russian side regarding the extension of the “grain deal”.
The question read: “Ukraine has resumed, according to Reuters, negotiations on a grain deal with partners. It is noteworthy that the Russian side did not participate in the negotiations. How would you comment on this news?
Zakharova replied that the Russian side is aware of these statements, but no negotiations on this issue with the participation of Russian representatives have yet been conducted.
She stated that the “Black Sea Initiative”, which is valid for 120 days, expires on 18 March.
She added: “Our position is known and remains unchanged regarding the package of proposals by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, which is based on the Black Sea Initiative, and the Russia-UN memorandum on the normalization of the export of Russian agricultural products. We proceed from the fact that the agreements that were concluded in Istanbul July 22, 2022, should be implemented simultaneously with each other in order to solve the declared humanitarian tasks to overcome the food crisis and help needy countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Zakharova stressed that so far only the Ukrainian part has been effectively implemented, and the export of Russian agricultural products is still difficult as a result of unilateral Western sanctions.
On March 13, another round of consultations will be held in Geneva between the joint Russian delegation, on the one hand, and the Director General of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs R. Greenspan and the head of the OCHA Mr. Griffiths, who oversee the Russia-UN Memorandum and the Black Sea Initiative.
Source: Russian Foreign Ministry.
