Putin complains to South African president that Russia's demands in grain deal are not fulfilled

This was reported by Sky News.

As the Black Sea grain deal is due to expire on July 17, Russia and Ukraine must agree to extend it. However, during a conversation with the President of South Africa, Putin reiterated that his demands had not been met.

The grain deal provides a safe corridor for the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea to developing countries. According to supporters of the agreement, it helps to reduce food prices in African countries.

However, Putin rejects the extension of the agreement demanding that the West should remove obstacles to Russian food and fertiliser exports.

Putin also rejected an attempt last month by a delegation of African leaders, including President Ramaphosa, to reach an agreement between Ukraine and Russia on "confidence-building measures" because they were based on the principle of restoring Ukraine's internationally recognised borders.

South Africa has developed a less clear-cut approach to the war than the West or key Russian allies such as Belarus.

Some details about the grain deal

The agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was concluded between Russia and Ukraine with the mediation of the UN and Turkey in July 2022 in Istanbul. It has since been extended several times.

In January, the Ministry of Infrastructure said that as a result of Russian actions in the Bosphorus, the world loses millions of tons of Ukrainian food every month. The occupiers are hampering the inspection of ships that export grain to third world countries.

In March 2023, the Russian Federation informed the parties that the agreement would be extended for only 60 days instead of 120. These agreements were due to expire on May 18.

To extend it, the Russians demanded:

• reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT
• resumption of supply of agricultural machinery, spare parts and service
• lifting restrictions on insurance and reinsurance plus lifting the ban on access to ports
• resumption of the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline
• unblocking foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to the production and transportation of food and fertilizers.

On May 17, the grain deal was extended for 60 days. The Russians' demands were not met.

Doubts about the continuation of the grain deal were also voiced in the UK on July 4.

On June 5, the Russian Federation said it saw no prospects for extending the agreement in July, and on June 22, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it did not see the Russians' readiness to continue the grain initiative.

On July 5, the UN announced its readiness to send a representative to Moscow to "save the grain deal."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on July 8 that his country is working on extending the grain deal for two years.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has offered Russian President Putin to extend the grain deal in exchange for reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT. The Kremlin had demanded this earlier

On July 12, Turkey’s Erdogan said that he had received proposals from Putin to extend the grain deal.

On July 13, Putin said Russia will extend the grain deal when its demands are met. 

Ukraine is looking for alternative ways to supply grain to Africa, Europe and Asia.