Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova's reply to a media question regarding extension of the grain deal
12 March 2023 13:47
455-12-03-2023
Question: Ukraine has resumed talks with partners regarding the grain deal. Reuters reported, with a reference to a top official in the Ukrainian authorities, that Ukraine commenced talks to extend the grain deal. According to the report, the Russian side did not take part in the talks. What can you say about these reports?
Answer: We are well aware of the statements by various sides, including the Kiev regime, on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, whose second term (120 days) expires on March 18. There were no talks conducted in this regard, especially with participation of the Russian representatives.
Our general position regarding the package proposal of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which comprises the Russia-UN Memorandum to normalise national agricultural exports, as well as the aforementioned Black Sea Grain Initiative, is well-known and remains intact. We proceed from the fact that the agreements entered into in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, need to be fulfilled in conjunction with one another in order to resolve the specified humanitarian tasks to overcome the food crisis and help the countries in need in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We have to state that so far only the Ukrainian part has been effectively implemented, Russian agricultural exports continue to be blocked by western unilateral sanctions.
Another round of consultations of a Russian interdepartmental delegation with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan and head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, who supervise the Russia-UN Memorandum and the Black Sea Grain Initiative, respectively, will take place in Geneva on March 13.
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