The opportunity to revive the Grains Initiative is always open, it just takes one thing

According to Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov, officials in Moscow, including at the highest level, have repeatedly stressed that the opportunity to restore the Black Sea Grain Initiative is always open, and that Washington should actually remove the sanctions barriers.

‘Vũ khí nông nghiệp’ Nga phát tác, kế hoạch B của Ukraine tắc ngay từ lối ra châu Âu. (Nguồn: Safety4sea)

The Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye last year, has allowed for the safe export of grain and other food from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. (Source: Safety4sea)

On September 16, the Telegram channel of the Russian Embassy in the US quoted Ambassador Antonov as saying: “Russian officials, even at the highest level, have repeatedly stressed that the opportunity to restore the Black Sea (Grain) Initiative is always open. It is only necessary to ensure that the legitimate demands of the Russian side are met, from which the agreements brokered by Türkiye will be seriously implemented.”

Ambassador Antonov reaffirmed that the above-mentioned agreements include not only Ukraine's part, but also the equally important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Russia and the UN Secretariat on the export of Moscow's food products and fertilizers to the world market.

Earlier, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Washington currently sees no prospect of the parties quickly returning to the Black Sea grain deal, as Moscow is changing its requirements on this issue.

The Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye last year, allowed for safe exports of grain and other food from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Moscow pulled out of the deal in July, accusing the West of failing to deliver on its own grain and fertilizer exports.

So far, Türkiye and the United Nations have failed to convince Russia to return to the deal.

On September 10, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia will return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative if Moscow's conditions regarding its grain and fertilizer exports to global markets are met.

Source