RUSSIA says there will be no extension of the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18 unless the West removes obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertiliser, Reuters reports.
The Ukraine grain Black Sea export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July last year to help alleviate a global food crisis worsened by conflict disrupting exports from two of the world's leading grain suppliers.
'Without progress on solving five systemic problems, there is no need to talk about a further extension of the Black Sea initiative after May 18,' the Russian foreign ministry declared.
'We note that, despite all the high-sounding statements about global food security and assistance to countries in need, the Black Sea Initiative both served and continues to serve exclusively commercial exports of Kiev in the interests of Western countries,' the ministry said.
To help persuade russia to allow Ukraine to resume its Black Sea grain exports last year, a separate three-year agreement was also struck in July in which the United Nations agreed to help Russia with its food and fertiliser exports.
Russia said the two agreements were 'interconnected parts of one package,' and chided the UN for what it said was a distortion of the facts.
SeaNews Turkey
The Ukraine grain Black Sea export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July last year to help alleviate a global food crisis worsened by conflict disrupting exports from two of the world's leading grain suppliers.
'Without progress on solving five systemic problems, there is no need to talk about a further extension of the Black Sea initiative after May 18,' the Russian foreign ministry declared.
'We note that, despite all the high-sounding statements about global food security and assistance to countries in need, the Black Sea Initiative both served and continues to serve exclusively commercial exports of Kiev in the interests of Western countries,' the ministry said.
To help persuade russia to allow Ukraine to resume its Black Sea grain exports last year, a separate three-year agreement was also struck in July in which the United Nations agreed to help Russia with its food and fertiliser exports.
Russia said the two agreements were 'interconnected parts of one package,' and chided the UN for what it said was a distortion of the facts.
SeaNews Turkey
