Go to the media bankThe building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in Moscow. File photoMOSCOW, Sep 12Russia considers it obvious that the current state of affairs on the food deal cannot be put up with, said Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, commenting on the prospects for its extension. «There is a provision that it is valid for 120 days, after which countries should consider its effect. If necessary, changes may be made to the relevant agreement. We raised the problem because it is obvious that it is impossible to agree with the current state of affairs, since it contradicts the fundamental understandings that created the context for the subject of work on these documents,» Grushko told reporters.
The State Department responded to criticism regarding the recipients of grain «Analysis of the implementation (of the memorandum — ed.) indicates that once again our partners have shown an unfair approach. And if you look at the statistics of ship routes, it is obvious that more than 87% go to the poorest countries where there is a real threat of famine, and to the EU countries and other countries that are not in any way starving.In addition, the decisions that are being made in the European Union regarding the lifting of sanctions clearly indicate that the EU does not intend to act in in accordance with the memorandum that was signed in Istanbul,» the deputy minister explained. He added that if the EU softens restrictions, then «only for agricultural goods and their delivery to the EU countries.» In Istanbul, on July 22, the signing of multilateral agreements on lifting restrictions on the supply of Russian products for export and on Russia's assistance in the export of Ukrainian grain. The deal, which was signed by representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN, involves the export of Ukrainian grain, food and fertilizer across the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa. » />The Kremlin was outraged by the non-fulfillment of part of the grain deal
