UN representatives will visit Russia to discuss food security

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development Rebecca Greenspan will arrive in Moscow on October 9 to discuss food security issues. This was announced by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Vershinin.

“We will hold consultations with them on these issues and once again convey our points of view, our assessments regarding this entire range of issues,” he said.

Vershinin recalled that Moscow had previously withdrawn from the grain deal, but the Russia-UN memorandum on the supply of agricultural products from Russia is still in effect. The diplomat said that Russia’s decision was made due to failure to fulfill promises to comply with the part relating to the export of Russian grain and fertilizers. He added that now, pointing to food security, Western countries are trying to use this “for an information attack on Russia.”

Western countries, Vershinin continued, spoke about the threat to food security posed by Russia and warned about rising prices, but now they have stopped talking about it. “Because prices are not rising on the grain market. And this means that all statements that some of our actions have a bad effect – no, [это не так]”, – he said.

Previously reportedthat UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is interacting with the Russian side on the issue of resuming the grain deal and plans to continue these contacts. Russia withdrew from the Black Sea initiative on July 17, after which the EU and the United States called on Moscow to return to the implementation of the agreements and stated that the Russian Federation’s decision could result in an increase in grain prices.

September 22, press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov statedthat there is currently no progress in terms of fulfilling Russia’s conditions for resuming the grain deal. In the same week, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell saidthat the EU cannot agree with Russia on the resumption of the Black Sea initiative.