Guterres expressed concern about the prospect of non-renewal of the grain deal

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern about the possible non-renewal of the grain deal. In May, the deal was extended until July 17.

“I am concerned. And we are working hard to make sure that it is possible to maintain the Black Sea grain initiative and that we can at the same time continue to work to promote Russian exports,” he replied. Guterres, when asked if he was concerned that Russia might pull out of the deal (quote according to RIA Novosti).

10 June Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Vershinin declaredthat the decision on the grain deal will be made only on the basis of the interests of the Russian side. He made such a statement following negotiations with the UN. Also Vershinin declaredthat the UN failed to convince the EU to reconnect Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT payment system. June 9 in Geneva passed negotiations between Russia and the UN on the grain deal.

How declared June 5 Vershinin, the Russian Foreign Ministry believes that there are no prospects for extending the grain deal. Also Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya saidthat the agreements under the grain deal are not being implemented, so Moscow sees no prospects for its extension.

The grain deal was concluded on July 22, 2022 by representatives of Turkey and the UN, on the one hand, and representatives of Russia and Ukraine, on the other. Separate agreements were concluded with Moscow and Kiev: the first was for the export of Ukrainian grain from three ports, including Odessa, Yuzhny and Chernomorsk, and the second was for assistance in the export of Russian grain and fertilizers. Moscow has repeatedly noted that the second part of the deal is not being implemented.