EU says Russia doesn’t want grain deal; Ukraine opts for compromise with neighbors

On September 19, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that he saw no prospect of reaching an agreement on grain transportation across the Black Sea with Russia.

EU pessimistic about prospects of reaching grain deal with Russia. (Source: Anadolu Agency)

Speaking at a press conference in New York (USA), Mr. Borrell emphasized: "Russia has set conditions... Honestly, I don't think this is a problem that stems from these conditions or the lifting of some restrictions or sanctions.

Our sanctions do not affect the export of food and fertilizers… There is no possibility of reaching an agreement with Russia, because I am sure that they do not want this agreement".

* Also on September 19, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov informed that a ship carrying grain left the port of Chornomorsk on the Black Sea coast of this country - the first time since the grain agreement expired last July.

According to Mr. Kubrakov, the ship named Resilient Africa, carrying 3,000 tons of wheat, has left the port of Chornomorsk and is heading towards the Bosphorus Strait of Türkiye.

* Ukraine's Pravda newspaper reported on September 19 that the country's government has proposed a compromise scenario to neighboring countries regarding grain exports.

The source quoted Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as saying: "The government has presented the EU and neighboring countries with a compromise scenario. We have presented the European Commission (EC) with an action plan to control the export of four groups of Ukrainian agricultural products."

The proposed control mechanism would help prevent negative impacts on markets in EU member states bordering Ukraine.

“We plan to adopt a resolution according to which exports to five neighboring countries will have to be confirmed and approved by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine,” Prime Minister Shmyhal stressed.

Otherwise, Kiev will continue to file a complaint against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for imposing unilateral bans on Ukrainian agricultural products.

On the same day, the WTO confirmed that Kiev had sent a request for consultations with countries that unilaterally banned the import of Ukrainian agricultural products.

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