Peskov: Russia did not make new statements on the grain deal

Russia made no new announcements about the grain deal. This was announced by the press secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov.

“There were no statements on this score from the Russian side,” noted Peskov (quote from RIA Novosti).

Vedomosti sent a request to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

Earlier on July 14, Reuters reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position that the grain deal should be extended. According to the Turkish leader, Ankara hopes to extend the Black Sea deal after July 17 thanks to the efforts of the UN and Turkey.

In Vilnius on July 12, Erdogan toldthat Putin made some proposals for a grain deal, which are now being discussed. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov notedthat he is not aware of any new proposals on this topic, adding that the presidents have long discussed mutual willingness to work “regardless of any other agreements on preferential grain supplies.”

12 July Representative of the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric told that Secretary General António Guterres sent a letter to the President of Russia on July 11, the purpose of which is to remove “obstacles to financial transactions through Rosselkhozbank, <...> as well as the simultaneous permission to continue the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.” Dujarric noted that the Russian side has already received the letter and is currently considering it.

The 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. As part of the negotiations, two agreements were signed between Moscow and Kiev. The first is for the export of Ukrainian grain from three ports, including Odessa, Yuzhny and Chornomorsk, the second is for assistance in the export of Russian grain and fertilizers. The Kremlin previously stated 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.

Peskov previously said that Russia could withdraw from the grain deal after it ends on July 17. The Kremlin noted that the Russian part of the agreements on the grain deal is still not being fulfilled, and therefore there are no grounds for its extension.