MOSCOW, March 20Russia conscientiously fulfills its obligations to supply products, including within the framework of the «grain deal», and is ready to transfer part of the frozen resources in European countries to Africa for free, but it is being hindered, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
«Our country conscientiously fulfills all its obligations — both in the supply of food, fertilizers, fuel and other critically important products for the states of the continent, thereby contributing to ensuring food and energy security. You probably know that some of the resources we have frozen in European countries, including in fertilizers, we are already ready — the first batches have passed — to transfer to countries in need for free. But unfortunately, here we are being hindered,» Putin said during his speech at the International Parliamentary Conference «Russia-Africa in multipolar world.»
The grocery (or 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 coordination of vessel traffic is handled by the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul. Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out in September that the West exports most of the Ukrainian grain to its own states, and not to needy countries in Africa.
The contract expired on November 18, 2022, but included an automatic extension for 120 days until March 18, if there were no objections from either party. 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. At the same time, on March 18, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russia agreed to extend the grain deal for 60 days.