Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Russia is prepared to withdraw from a deal permitting the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea unless its own demands are met. This declaration reinforces Moscow’s firm stance as the deal’s expiration date approaches next Monday.
Speaking to Russian state television, Putin also remarked that the United Nations has thus far failed to propose a satisfactory solution to the issue, denying having received any letter containing proposals from the U.N. Secretary-General.
A Kremlin spokesperson later clarified that Russia has not made a final decision regarding its exit from the grain deal.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022, involving Russia and Ukraine, with the aim of addressing the global food crisis exacerbated by Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine and the blockade of Ukrainian ports.
To persuade Putin to agree to the deal, U.N. officials also committed to assisting Russia in exporting its food and fertilizer to foreign markets, a commitment Moscow claims has not been fulfilled.
Although Russian food and fertilizer exports are not subject to Western sanctions imposed due to Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, Moscow argues that restrictions on payments, logistics, and insurance have impeded shipments.
Sources indicate that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote to Putin, proposing that Russia allow the deal to continue for several months to provide the European Union with time to connect a subsidiary of the Russian Agriculture Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the international payment network SWIFT.
On Thursday, Putin stated that he had not received any such message.
