GENEVA, Mar 14 wishes of the Ukrainian side to expand the «grain deal», Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said at a briefing with reporters in Geneva.
«As far as I understand, we are talking about the wishes of the Ukrainian side. We have a negative attitude to this,» he answered the question about what Russia thinks about expanding the agreement.
Vershinin added that Moscow proceeds from the fact that the UN and the UN Secretariat should maintain a «neutral and objective position and not play along with anyone, in this case the Ukrainian side.»
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he had a meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres, and that the parties discussed the grain deal, its extension and expansion.
Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin, after negotiations with UN representatives on the situation with the grain deal in Geneva, said that Russia did not object to another extension of the «Black Sea Initiative» after the expiration of the second term on March 18, but only for 60 days. According to him, Russia's further position will be determined depending on the real — not in words, but in deeds — progress in the normalization of Russian agricultural exports, including bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, unfreezing of financial activities and the supply of ammonia through the Togliatti-Odessa pipeline.
The grain deal, which was signed on July 22, 2022 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 Joint Coordinating Center (JCC) in Istanbul is responsible for coordinating the movement of ships. The contract expired on November 18, 2022, but meant an automatic extension for 120 days until March 18, if either party did not object. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that «no such objections were received,» at the same time noting that the Russian side allows a technical extension of the «Black Sea initiative» for the export of Ukrainian grain without any changes in terms and scope.
The grain deal itself is an integral part of the package agreement, which, among other things, provides for the unblocking of Russian exports of food and fertilizers, Moscow noted that this was precisely what was not implemented. At the same time, there were assurances from the UN that the restrictions would be lifted.
September 23, 2022, 11:46 InfographicWho received the grain under the food dealView