UN claims to have won sanctions exemptions for grain deal

The UN has obtained from the United States, Great Britain and the EU countries the exclusion of anti-Russian sanctions regarding the export of agricultural products from Russia, writes Interfax with reference to the statement of the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) coordinating the grain deal.

“The UN has made significant efforts to engage relevant authorities, including the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States <…> to the implementation of existing food and fertilizer exemptions under the sanctions, which could facilitate the export of Russian food and fertilizer products to address global food security concerns,” the statement said.

According to the World Organization, she helped obtain the necessary licenses in the US and UK, as well as derogations in the ninth round of EU sanctions. The UN assured that they continue to work on “key decisions”.

On June 30, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a briefing on international issues pointed outthat does not understand what arguments may be in favor of another extension of the grain deal. According to him, the terrorist attack in June on the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, which was part of the terms of the initiative, was the last straw.

On June 21, the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin does not see the prerequisites for extending the grain deal, since the agreements are not being implemented. On June 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the consideration of the option of withdrawing from the agreement on grain at a meeting with military commanders. On June 20, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin allowed the completion of the grain agreement on July 18 due to non-fulfillment of the agreements. However, he did not rule out the possibility of a new round of consultations with the UN.