MOSCOW, Jul 22The United States is unlikely to be able to find alternatives to the grain deal, without the participation of Russia it is impossible, said Alexei Martynov, director of the International Institute of Newest States, associate professor at the Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the United States, together with its allies, are looking for alternatives to the Black Sea grain deal, but do not see the possibility of completely replacing the lost supplies through other routes.
“I don’t see what Blinken’s novel is about — this is his next scam. I don’t think the United States will succeed,” Martynov said.
The expert stressed that «sea schemes are impossible» without Russia's participation, especially after «a brazen and cynical attempt at a terrorist act against the Crimean bridge, using the very sea corridors that were allocated for the grain deal.»
He added that Russia's refusal of the grain deal, the circumstances in which the Ukrainian agricultural economy is today and the prolongation of the military part of the Ukrainian conflict by the West will lead to the fact that «many buyers of Ukrainian grain will switch to direct contracts for the supply of grain from Russia.»
«More and more (countries — ed.) are leaning toward direct bilateral relations without any clever deals, where, as a rule, the one who deals the cards wins,» Martynov concluded.
The grain deal ceased on July 18, on Monday the Russian Federation notified Turkey, Ukraine and the UN of its objection to its extension. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously noted that the terms of the deal with Russia were not kept, despite the efforts of the UN, because Western countries were not going to keep their promises. Putin has repeatedly pointed out that the West exported most of the Ukrainian grain to their states, and the main goal of the deal — the supply of grain to needy countries, including African ones — was never realized.
After Black Sea Grain Shutdown of the new initiative and curtailment of the maritime humanitarian corridor, all ships sailing in the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports will be considered as potential carriers of military cargo from midnight on July 20, 2023 and will be considered involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kiev regime, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
Earlier, Bloomberg reported that a number of representatives of the shipping business are confident that after the expiration of the grain deal, no one «in their right mind» will send ships along unsafe routes to the sea. -1885598702.html» data-title=»Russia explained its position on the grain deal, Turkish Foreign Minister said»>