The United States has been told that Russia is prepared to return to talks on a deal that had allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, but "we haven't seen any evidence of that yet," the U.S. envoy to the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Russia quit the deal on July 17. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that if Russia wants to get its own fertilizer to global markets and make agricultural transactions "they're going to have to return to this deal."
"We have seen indications that they might be interested in returning to discussions. So we will wait to see whether that actually happens," she said at a press conference, without giving further details.
Moscow has suggested that if its demands to improve its own exports of grain and fertilizer were met it would consider resurrecting the Black Sea agreement, brokered in July 2022 by the U.N. and Turkey to help ease a global food crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's grain and fertilizer exports are not subject to Western sanctions but Moscow has said restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have been a barrier to shipments.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met a week ago with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin - who led Moscow's negotiations to agree the Black Sea deal - on the sidelines of a U.N. food systems summit in Rome.
"Had there been a breakthrough, I think it would have been shared with you," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday.
After withdrawing from the Black Sea pact Russia began targeting Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure on the Black Sea and Danube River and global grain prices spiked.
Russia has also threatened to target Ukraine-bound civilian vessels, prompting Kyiv to responded by announcing similar measures against vessels bound for Russia or Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.
Nearly 33 million tonnes of Ukraine grain was exported under the Black Sea deal. Ukraine and Russia are both leading grain exporters.
"The Secretary-General is continuing his efforts to find a path forward to bring the Russians back into the deal," Thomas-Greenfield said, noting that part of the deal was "to provide some support for Russia's fertilizer to get to the market."
"If they're not in the deal, that part of the deal is no longer working," she said.
The accord allowed for the export of Russian ammonia - a main ingredient in nitrate fertilizer - via a pipeline to the Ukrainian port of Odesa. But the pipeline has lain idle since the start of the war and was then damaged in June.
© Thomson Reuters 2023.
33 Comments
JJE
Translation - we shafted you on the deal last time and will do so again. Please sign up and pretend the above statement is true.
Ukraine 5% and Russia over 20%.
And Russia has guaranteed free grain shipments to friendly, needy countries at last weeks successful Russia-African summit in St. Petersburg.
2020hindsights
JJE
Except that they weren't shafted last time.
Yeah, right! They promised 25,000-50,000 tonnes of free grain to 6 countries. Do you know how tiny that is?
2020hindsights
It looks as if commercial ships are ignoring Russia's blockade. Three ships have passed through the Turkish strait on route to Ukraine.
This may encourage Russia to renew the deal. I don't think they want to be seen firing on civilian ships.
Yrral
Ukraine is psychological dependence on others, without psychological support their doomed to being dependent on others
JJE
Bottomline is the grain deal was a lopsided rort. They claim there were no sanctions on agricultural products but put on roadblocks in every way, shape and form.
Besides, resumption of the deal will only take place when Moscow's seven requirements are met, which is unlikely to happen, considering they receive little to no mention.
But it's a moot point with ongoing attacks on Crimea (utilizing the humanitarian corridor), not to mention these other desperate drone attacks on Moscow.
Plus the port facilities suffered some unfortunate damage.
JJE
I have not seen any evidence of commercial ships cruising through an area declared not-safe-for-navigation.
The insurance companies wouldn't allow it.
I have seen a report of six Turkish-flagged bulk carriers stranded in ports and Ankara is negotiating to get them back.
2020hindsights
JJE
And yet Russia exported a record amount of grain last year. So what you say doesn't bear true.
Sure Russia has enormous difficulties due to sanctions, and if they want to end those, pull out of Ukraine.
2020hindsights
JJE
And yet they are. The first ship was an Israeli ship.
ok1517
*"Moscow has suggested that if its demands to improve its own exports of grain and fertilizer were met it would consider resurrecting the Black Sea agreement,..."*
Yeah, right sure! The grain they stole from Ukraine!
Blood-tainted grain, paid for by murdered Ukrainians!
And by the way, who are they to "demand" something?
Ukraine prevails!
ok1517
@JJE,
I assume you can read numbers (as of 2022).
Yes, Russia exported more grain with 13.1% of world wide wheat exports.
Ukraine ranking 5th with 8.5%. Now how about comparing country size with these export numbers?
Ukraine prevails (here, too)!
JJE
Everyone knows the counter offensive is hopelessly stalled and causing ridiculous losses in men and material.
And this is a side-show to legitimize the puppet regime in Kyiv (which again cancelled elections). They are losing and they know it.
Moscow and other countries have been implementing payment-systems that bypasses SWIFT and the dollar.
Truth is the deal is irrelevant. Trade has successfully been diverted to other countries in many sectors.
Blockading the coastal ports strangles Kyiv's economy and assists the SMO.
Hope those ships don't hit a sea mine.
2020hindsights
JJE
I think it is going as well as expected. Russia are losing more than twice as much material as Ukraine, so as long as that is the case, they should continue.
Puppet regime? Surely you jest.
Russia are also losing and they know it.
So why is Russia linking agri bank's SWIFT inclusion to renewing the grain deal?
I doubt that nations in Africa would share your optimism.
Yeah, that looks like the plan all along. Glad that you can see that it wasn't that the the grain deal was a lopsided rort.
La vie douce
"Russia has also threatened to target Ukraine-bound civilian vessels, prompting Kyiv to responded by announcing similar measures against vessels bound for Russia or Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory."
"It looks as if commercial ships are ignoring Russia's blockade. Three ships have passed through the Turkish strait on route to Ukraine. This may encourage Russia to renew the deal. I don't think they want to be seen firing on civilian ships."
www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/273917640/kiev-attempts-terror-attack-on-russian-civilian-ships-mod
Not sure if this is confirmed or not but according to Russian MOD - Rusian civilian vessels heading to Bosporus strait ( under escort of Russian navy ) were unsuccessfully attacked yesterday by 3 Ukranian sea drones. This is separate from the attack on two Russian navy patrol boats earlier in the day.
So yes, there appear to be civilian ships sailing in the area and also being attacked - if this report is accurate. That is "if".
Eastman
UA is going to loose own access to Black sea than can beg in Poland that their grain will be transported out of country...or eat all at home?
Russia have built better relationship with many african countries recently and russian grain will go there...no issues.
USA have missed their train...
Eastman
Americans knows very well why Russia did not extend this deal.
Once they remove obstacles Russia may be back around the table but russin position will be very different from one months ago.
Btw what have happened to "slava Ukraine victory news" today?
I have found nothing ,no word abt new victories of heroi on the front...how many rockets they took down...nothing...?
Yrral
Russian are getting too do a decapitation strike on Ukraine, because people of Russia, would consider continue strike on Moscow as being weak, imagine if Mexico attack Washington DC everyday , American would demand decapitation strike on Mexico City and it leaders
UChosePoorly
Keep pounding, Ukraine!
Raw Beer
Well Russia has likely not yet seen any evidence that the other side has any intention of satisfying their side of the deal.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Russia has shown no capability to take Odessa.
2020hindsights
Eastman
Yeah, right. Only 17 heads of state were at the Russia-Africa summit, compared to 43 at the first summit in 2019. Putin said that he would give free grain, but that turns out to be a paltry 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of grain to 6 African nations.
Rodney
because Russia doesn’t target civilians with NATO weapons. But things may change. UK radiation bombs, USA cluster bombs, USA/uk special forces troops operating in Ukraine, and NATO backed attacks on Moscow…I am seriously looking at leaving USA occupation by American in Japan. I want a good life.
TaiwanIsNotChina
because they have their own weapons to target civilians... They were even proud of it targeting power plants in winter.
Rodney
most of grain went to Western Europe to feed high quality pigs to make ham. Google. 95%
wallace
Rodney
That is incorrect.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/ukrainian-grain-exports-explained/
La vie douce
By far the most agricultural exports under the Black Sea grain initiative went to the top 5 destinations as indicated below https://data.humdata.org/dataset/black-sea-grain-initiative-vessel-movements / https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/ukrainian-grain-exports-explained/
China , 8 million tonnes
Spain -6 mil
Turkiye 3.2 mil
Italy 2.1 mil.5 The Netherlands 2 mil.
Therefore to clarify this to the other posters above - Spain and its famous pig farmers received 6 million tonnes , 2nd highest volume of total shipments out of total 32.9 million tonnage ( total quantity of commodities shipped ).
Eastman
La vie douce
many of us knows that UA grain is substandard in EU and is good enough as pigs feeding stuff only.many east europrean EU members have stopped import of UA grain since they need to protect own farmers production and many of them are exporters of grain by themselves so UA competition is not needed,same time UA grain is contamined and posing health risks by EU standards.
west and UN have "cried" that if UA grain not exported to Africa many people will die,now Russia have agreed with african states abt deliveries etc so there will be no "starving" in Africa at all.
heroi from Kiev have a big problem as cant use Black sea ports anymore and there is no other sea in Ukraine so can ship only via Poland,Hungary,Romania/all 3 have blocked import of grain from UA/ or eat by themselves all.
make free bread for own citizens and celebrate their daily victories over Russians...
2020hindsights
Eastman
Not true. Russia will only give up to 50,000 tonnes to 6 countries, which is next to nothing. Without Ukraine grain in the market prices will rise, becoming unaffordable for some African nations.
Eastman
UA and its "grain business" is doomed.
Eastman
there is little difference between "giving away" and "selling".
selling price is price seller and buyer agrees and may be not so called "market price".
say it in simple way.
Russia will donate some grain to african nations for free,than will sell another grain at prices they will agree with buyers so even if market price will go up-Russians can/will sell grain under this market price.
plain enough?
as I wrote above west/USA and UA have missed their train.
La vie douce
"Not true. Russia will only give up to 50,000 tonnes to 6 countries, which is next to nothing. Without Ukraine grain in the market prices will rise, becoming unaffordable for some African nations."
That is only what Putin promised to the 6 African nations as a donation in the next 3 to 4 months..not total.
Al Jazeera - "Putin said Russia intends to ship up to 50,000 tonnes of grain aid to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Eritrea and the Central African Republic in the next three to four months."
Some of Putin,s other comments on the deal during the Russia Africa summit whether you believe them or not-
The ‘deal,’ while it was publicly advertised by the West as a gesture of goodwill that benefited Africa, has in fact been shamelessly used solely for the enrichment of large US and European businesses that exported and resold grain from Ukraine,” the Russian leader said.
"Putin said the poorest nations, such as Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia, as well as Yemen and Afghanistan, received less than 3% of the supplies, while over 70% of Ukrainian grain exports ended up in higher-income countries, including member states of the EU.
Not only were none of the promises to exempt Russian grain exports from sanctions fulfilled, the West even blocked Russia’s attempts to send fertilizers to the poorest countries free of charge. According to Putin, only two shipments were delivered – one of 20,000 tonnes to Malawi and one of 34,000 tonnes to Kenya, while more than 200,000 tonnes are “still unscrupulously held by the Europeans.”
“And this is a purely humanitarian initiative we are talking about, which should be exempt from any sanctions as such,” he added.
Eastman
La vie douce
Thank you for update with more details.
2020hindsights
Eastman
Donating 50,000 Tonnes of grain will not change the market price of grain. It will have no effect because it is a tiny amount of grain.
Plain enough?
2020hindsights
2020hindsights
Yeah, right. Russia won't sell cheap when they don't have to. You'll have to provide some evidence for that.