The Kremlin refused to take “the word” of US officials on the issue of fertilizer exports

Moscow is not ready to believe statements by US officials who promise to facilitate fertilizer exports when the grain deal is resumed. This was stated by the press secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov.

“Not at all,” he said (cit. according to RIA Novosti), answering the question whether Russia is ready to believe the statements of US officials.

Formerly US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken informedthat in the event of Moscow returning to the grain deal, Washington “will continue to do whatever is necessary” to export food. According to Blinken, during the Black Sea Initiative, the United States took various measures aimed at ensuring the export of Russian fertilizers, including writing to banks demanding “to ensure the process of transactions.”

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. 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. Moscow has repeatedly stated that the second part of the deal is not being implemented. Despite this, the deal was repeatedly extended. On July 17, 2023, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Initiative.

On July 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin at a plenary session of the Russia-Africa forum assessed the results of the agreement. According to him, during the year of the deal, 32.8 million tons of cargo was exported from Ukraine, of which 70% went to high-income countries. At the same time, according to his data, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and other African countries accounted for less than 3% of the total supply – less than 1 million tons.