On March 18, the second 120-day validity period of the “Black Sea initiative” for the export of Ukrainian food expired. Due to the lack of progress in the implementation of the Russia-UN Memorandum on the normalization of domestic agricultural exports, Moscow decided to reduce the period of the next extension to 60 days, that is, until May 18.
This position was officially communicated to the Turkish and Ukrainian sides of the Black Sea Initiative, as well as to UN representatives. There were no formal objections. Thus, the agreement continues to operate for the next two months in the available parameters, without any changes in the ports involved, the nomenclature of goods and the agreed inspection procedure.
The further decision on the extension of the initiative will depend on progress in the implementation of the following conditions in the context of the implementation of the Russia-UN Memorandum: reconnection of Rosselkhoznadzor to SWIFT; resumption of supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts and service; lifting of restrictions on insurance and reinsurance plus lifting of the ban on access to ports; restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline; unblocking of foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to the production and transportation of food and fertilizers. Without progress in fulfilling these requirements, which are absolutely not new and should have been resolved within the framework of the Russia-UN Memorandum, our participation in the Black Sea Initiative will be suspended.
We remind you that the “Black Sea Initiative” and the Russia-UN Memorandum are integral parts of one “package” of agreements proposed by UN Secretary General A.Guterres and signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, their implementation should be simultaneous and interrelated in order to ensure global food security and provide assistance to countries in need in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
So far, only the Ukrainian part of the “package” is being implemented, and in parameters far from the declared humanitarian goals – commercial export of feed grain to countries with high incomes and above average. Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers, including the operation of the Tolyatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, remain blocked as a result of unilateral Western sanctions and Kiev’s political games. Even the gratuitous transfer of Russian fertilizers (262,000 tons) to the poorest countries is carried out with great difficulties and delays – the only delivery (20,000 tons) to Malawi was carried out in six months.
Source: Russian Foreign Ministry
