Russia wants to extend the grain deal with Ukraine by just 60 days. Russia has no objection to a further extension, “but only for 60 days,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Monday after talks with UN officials in Geneva. Moscow wants to see progress on a parallel deal on Russian exports before considering extending the grain deal again, he added.
Our further stance will depend on tangible progress in normalizing our agricultural exports, said the head of the Russian delegation, Vershinin. “These include bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, the release of frozen financial activities, and ammonia shipments through the Tolyatti-Odessa pipeline.”
The grain agreement was signed in July with the mediation of the UN and Turkey safe export of Ukrainian grain through a protective corridor in the Black Sea to allow. According to UN figures, more than 24.1 million tons of grain have been exported so far. At the same time, an agreement was reached that allowed Russia, despite sanctions, to export fertilizer and food. Moscow has repeatedly complained that this agreement is not being respected.