Russia informs Turkey and UN of objections to grain deal

Russia has informed the UN, Turkey and Ukraine of its objection to the extension of the deal. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.

“Russia today officially notified the Turkish and Ukrainian sides, as well as the UN Secretariat, of its objection to the extension of the deal. In the near future, a statement by the Foreign Ministry will be published with detailed explanations of the Russian position,” reported Zakharova (quote from TASS).

Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov declaredthat, in fact, the Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today, July 17. He stressed that since the Russian part of the deal is not being implemented, its effect is terminated. Moscow is ready to return to the implementation of the agreements as soon as its conditions are met.

July 17 is the deadline for the grain deal. The Kremlin has repeatedly said it sees no reason to extend the grain deal until Russian conditions are met. On July 13, President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin, said that Moscow could suspend participation in the grain deal until all obligations to Russia were fulfilled. In addition, he called the agreement “a one-sided game.”

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. The Ukrainian part of the deal implies the unhindered export of grain from the ports of Odessa, Yuzhny and Chernomorsk, the Russian part – easing restrictions on the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers.