Russia says no basis, considers withdrawal; Ukraine sees dim prospects

Russia believes that there is currently no suitable basis for the country to extend the Black Sea grain agreement.

Russia stressed there was no basis for extending the grain deal. (Source: Adobe Stock)

Speaking to reporters on June 21, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the United Nations (UN) was forced to admit that "they did not seek to exert the necessary influence on Western countries to implement the provisions related to Russia in this agreement."

Earlier, on June 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was considering the possibility of Moscow withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia warned it would terminate the agreement if barriers to its food and fertilizer exports were not overcome.

On the Ukrainian side, according to Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Ukraine's recovery Oleksandr Kubrakov, the prospects for this agreement look dim as the extension deadline approaches.

“We are not optimistic at the moment, but Ukraine is making every effort to keep this initiative going,” he stressed.

The Black Sea grain deal reached in July 2022 under the auspices of the UN and Turkey aims to help address a global food crisis exacerbated by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the world's top grain exporter.

The agreement has been extended three times and according to the most recent extension on May 18, the agreement will expire on July 17.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/gia-han-thoa-thuan-ngu-coc-nga-noi-khong-co-co-so-can-nhac-rut-lui-ukraine-thay-trien-vong-mo-mit-231844.html