Peskov: Moscow is interested in complying with the grain deal

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is interested in honoring the terms of the grain deal, but so far they have “modest reasons for optimism.”

“We are interested in the terms of this deal being respected, so that the agreements that were reached quite a long time ago, even when this deal was activated, were fulfilled. Contacts on this subject are ongoing. For the time being, it is impossible to say more, because there are very modest reasons for optimism, if not to say the opposite,” the spokesman said.

Peskov noted that contacts with all representatives continue in the “expectation that, after all, the terms of the deal will be fulfilled.”

“And then – until we get ahead of ourselves. Of course, Russia will not do anything further that will be contrary to its interests,” he concluded.

Former Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova informedthat a new round of consultations on the implementation of the terms of the second part of the grain deal between Russia and the UN will be held on May 5 in Moscow.

Prior to this, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar informedthat a meeting of the delegations of Turkey, Russia and Ukraine on May 5 is planned in Istanbul. On April 30, he said ministerial talks would take place “in the coming days.”

Earlier, Reuters wrote that a new round of negotiations to extend the deal will be held on May 3. Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, answering a question from Vedomosti on May 2, declared journalists that in the field of extending the deal, “the dialogue will continue.”

The grain deal was extended in mid-March until May 18. On April 25, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the situation around the agreement had reached a dead end. The minister pointed to the unwillingness to remove obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizers, despite their shortage, and also to connect Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT. The Kremlin also called the prospects for extending the agreement “not very good.”

The agreement on the export of grain 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 signed with Moscow and Kiev: the first was for the export of Ukrainian grain from three ports, including Odessa, Yuzhny and Chernomorsk, 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.