Russia avoids clarity on participation in grain deal - FM Kuleba

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this in a comment to journalists at the UN headquarters, Ukrinform reports.

Ukraine has never negotiated a grain deal with Russia, and two separate documents were signed last year: one memorandum between Ukraine, Turkey and the UN and another between the UN, Turkey and Russia, the minister recalled.

"Russia itself avoids clarity, because in one text they talk about termination, and in another comment they say suspension," Kuleba emphasized.

Therefore, the prospects for this agreement seem "less optimistic" to some, and "a little more optimistic" to others, he said. According to the diplomat, such statements by the Russian Federation are an irresponsible step that jeopardizes global food security.

Kuleba held a series of talks on this topic, including with the UN Secretary General, "on how to proceed, because the functioning of corridors, sea and land, for the export of Ukrainian grain to the world market must continue."

"Now we all have a headache, we have to solve another problem created by Russia," he said.

The minister also noted that if there is political will, a solution will be found. In the coming days, "very intensive consultations will be held at all levels" to find a solution. In addition, he said, consultations are being held with the International Maritime Organization on this issue.

Russia does not guarantee the safety of any ship that tries to transport Ukrainian grain, Kuleba said.

"But in general, we have to understand one simple thing: as long as Russia stays in Crimea, it will hope to blackmail the world and impose its will on anyone. If we solve this problem, they will come up with another one in a month or two," the Ukrainian diplomat added, emphasizing that the best way to resolve the issue is to defeat Russia and make it leave.

Kuleba is currently on a working visit to New York, where he arrived to participate in a meeting of the UN Security Council and in the UN General Assembly's open debate on the situation in Ukraine.

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.

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.

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

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.

On July 16, the last ship loaded with Ukrainian agricultural products under the initiative left the port of Odesa. 

On July 17, Russia announced the termination of the grain deal. In response, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was necessary to continue using the grain corridor even despite Russia's withdrawal from the agreement. And Kuleba began urgent consultations at the UN.

The White House has condemned Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal, which played a crucial role in lowering global food prices.