GENEVA — The United Nations said on Tuesday it was trying to broker a deal that would allow Ukraine to continue exporting its grain through Russian naval ships that block the Black Sea, despite disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv on the duration of any agreement.
António Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, is also working with officials to work out a parallel agreement under which Russia can export its own food and fertilizers, according to his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, in a statement that seems to suggest that the United Nations is taking Moscow’s chances. serious concern.
“Significant progress has been made, but it is true that there are still some obstacles, especially regarding the payment system,” said Mr. Dujarric. “Our efforts to overcome those obstacles will continue unabated.”
The Black Sea Grains Initiative is a rare example of cooperation between the warring nations, allowing Ukraine, a major exporter of grain and other food crops, to recover suspended shipments. stalled when Russia launched a full-scale invasion nearly 13 months ago. When the deal was first signed last July, the United Nations said the initiative would help alleviate the hunger millions face.
Ukraine’s infrastructure minister, Oleksandr Kubrakov, said on Twitter on Monday that Russia’s push for a 90-day extension to the deal would conflict with the original agreementsaid any extension to the agreement would last a minimum of 120 days.
The agreement brokered by the United Nations and Turkey was extended by 120 days in November, with the agreement reached three days before the previous expiration date. It is set to expire again on Saturday.
Discussions of a further extension began in Geneva on Monday. Russian officials have indicated that they are not pleased that Moscow is having difficulty exporting its own agricultural products.
Sergei Vershinin, a deputy foreign minister, said in a statement after talks with UN officials, which he described as “comprehensive and forthright,” that Moscow’s position “will be determined.” based on clear progress in normalizing our agricultural exports, not in words, but in action.” Mr. Vershinin said Russia also only wants an extension of 60 days.
“The agreement is scheduled to be extended for another 120 days, but in the current circumstances, the secretary-general and his team are focused, in close contact with all parties, to do everything possible to ensure the integrity of the agreement. continuity of the initiative,” Mr. Dujarric said in a statement.
UN reported that the deal allowed more than 23 million tons of grain to enter world markets, while also stabilizing — and subsequently lowering — global food prices that had skyrocketed after Russia launched a global invasion. present in February 2022.
The agreement also provides for unimpeded export of agricultural products and fertilizers to world markets, an important step towards averting a dramatic decline in global food production at a time when climate catastrophe is taking its toll. exacerbated shortages that left millions of people living in severe hunger.
Grain exports are also important to Ukraine, given the importance of grains to the country’s economy.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said in his nightly address Monday: “Last year, the heroic efforts of our farmers and all workers in the agricultural sector helped to maintain agricultural production. industry and Ukraine’s global role as a guarantor of food security.
Vershinin, addressing the Kremlin’s complaint, said that while Ukraine’s food exports were going smoothly, Western sanctions had affected its agricultural exports. Russia. Waivers to sanctions announced by the United States, Britain and the European Union, he said, are “basically useless”.
Russia has been pushing for months to resume ammonia exports through a pipeline across Ukraine, to the Black Sea port of Odessa. But Kiev, in exchange for agreeing to that proposal, countered with a prisoner of war exchange.
Meanwhile, despite being exempted from Western sanctions on their agricultural goods, Russian companies say they face problems with excessive compliance by Western banks, suppliers of insurance and the shipping company continues to refuse to cooperate with them.
