Russia sets conditions for resuming the Black Sea Grain Initiative

On July 21, Deputy Head of Russia's Mission to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky said Moscow is ready to rejoin the grain deal brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye, but only on condition that Western countries and Ukraine meet their long-standing obligations.

Grain harvesting activities.

Speaking at a UN Security Council press conference on the Black Sea Initiative, Polyansky noted that Russia's decision to withdraw from the deal "should not surprise anyone" as nothing has been done to address Moscow's demands.

Mr. Polyansky affirmed that Russia is well aware of the importance of the grain deal for global food supplies and "is ready to consider returning, but only if all previously agreed principles of Russia's participation in this deal are fully implemented and implemented without exception."

Listing Russia's conditions, Mr. Polyansky stressed that sanctions on the country's grain and fertilizer exports to global markets should be lifted "in practical terms rather than just in words" while all obstacles for Russian financial institutions involved in the sector must also be removed, including reconnecting to the SWIFT payment system.

The diplomat also stressed Russia's demand for uninterrupted supplies of spare parts and components for agricultural machinery, as well as a final resolution of all issues related to transport vessels and insurance of the country's food exports.

Another demand is that the expansion of Russian fertilizer exports be unimpeded, including the restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, which was severely damaged last month. In addition, all Russian assets related to the agricultural sector must be released.

The final condition, according to Mr. Polyansky, is that the grain deal itself needs to be “restored to its original humanitarian nature” and used to solve food shortages in developing countries rather than making rich countries richer.

Moscow officially withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Agreement after it expired on July 17. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov described the deal as a “one-sided game” and noted that none of Russia’s demands were met.

Following the move, the Russian Defense Ministry warned that any ship heading to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea would be “treated as a potential military cargo ship.” In response, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry accused Moscow of attempting to turn the Black Sea into a “danger zone,” and issued a similar warning to all ships in the area heading towards Russia.

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