Lavrov praised UN efforts to fulfill the Russian part of the grain deal

The efforts of the UN to implement the Russian part of the grain deal did not bring any result. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a press conference following the results of the sixth round of the strategic dialogue between Russia and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.

“As for the Russian part of this package, it was not carried out at all in any of its points. We have been hearing for many, many months from representatives of the UN Secretariat, the Secretary General, his deputies, who are instructed to do this, that they are making incredible efforts … These incredible efforts have not brought any result at all, ”- explained Lavrov (quote from RIA Novosti).

July 4 at the Russian Foreign Ministry declared about the absence of grounds for extending the transaction after July 17. The deal turned into “a purely commercial export of Ukrainian food to “well-fed” countries”, part of Russia’s requirements “obviously removed from the agenda”, and “the achievement of any progress on the remaining two is not visible,” the department stressed.

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. In May, the deal was extended until July 17.

In June, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia could withdraw from the grain deal after it ends on July 17. The Kremlin previously reported that the Russian part of the agreements on the grain deal is still not being implemented, and therefore there are no grounds for its extension. July 10 Peskov confirmedthat Moscow’s position on this issue has not changed.

On July 7, a meeting between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took place in Istanbul, after which the Turkish president said that he would like to extend the grain deal after July 17. He also informedthat expects a constructive position from the President of Russia on this issue. According to Erdogan, the extension of the grain initiative is being discussed with Russia, and Ukraine has declared its readiness “to do everything in their power.”