Russia drops ammonia pipeline demand to reopen grain corridor

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Galuzin, made the statement, according to TASS.

He noted that the Russian side's conditions for the resumption of the grain deal, concluded in July 2022 with the mediation of Turkey and the UN, remained unchanged. At the same time, the diplomat emphasized that the resumption of supplies via the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline is no longer on the table.

"Our position remains unchanged, i.e., first of all, we need to solve systemic problems: reconnect Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT, resume spare parts supplies, establish transport logistics and insurance, restore access of Russian companies to their foreign assets (unfortunately, the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline is no longer in question)," Galuzin told the agency.

The diplomat also said that the reason for Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal was Ukraine's use of the maritime humanitarian corridor for military purposes.

Operation of the "grain corridor"

On 17 July, 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. 

On Sunday, July 30, despite the completion of the grain deal, three civilian cargo ships of foreign origin passed the Russian blockade in the Black Sea and anchored in one of Ukraine's grain ports in the Danube Delta.

On August 4, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, Oleksiy Danilov, declared that the country will dispatch its own ships carrying grain wherever they deem necessary, without seeking permission from anyone.

On August 10, the Ukrainian Navy announced a temporary humanitarian corridor for merchant ships sailing to and from Ukrainian ports.