OUR Moscow expressed concern in writing United Nations concerning the agreement on the export of grain through the Black Sea and is ready not to proceed with the extension of the agreement next month if its requirements are not met, Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, told Reuters today.

A deal brokered in July by the UN and Turkey paved the way for Ukraine to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports that had been blocked since the Russian invasion. Moscow received guarantees for the export of its own grain and fertilizers.

The deal helped defuse the global food crisis: Russia and Ukraine are the world’s two largest grain exporters, and Russia is the number one fertilizer exporter. But Moscow has repeatedly complained about the implementation of the agreement, saying it is still having difficulty selling fertilizer and food.

In an interview with Reuters, Gatilov indicated that Moscow handed over a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres on Wednesday, which listed a list of claims. UN representatives are due to visit Moscow on Sunday to discuss the extension of the agreement.

“If we don’t see that nothing is happening on the Russian side of the deal – Russian grain and fertilizer exports – then, sorry, we will have to look at it differently,” he said.

He refused to provide a copy of the letter. The UN spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Asked if Russia could refuse to support the extension of the grain deal due to concerns, he said: “There is a possibility … We are not against grain supplies, but this deal must be equitable, fair and applied fairly from all sides.”

Gatilov, a career diplomat and former Russian deputy foreign minister before becoming UN ambassador, said he sees prospects for a negotiated settlement of the nearly eight-month war in Ukraine. He referred to what he called “terrorist acts”, such as the blowing up of a bridge to Crimea.

“All this makes it difficult to reach a political solution,” he said.

Asked about the prospect of a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden, Gatilov said it was impossible given the level of US military support for Ukraine. “This makes the US part of the conflict,” he stressed.

However, he appeared more optimistic about other outcomes of the talks, such as access to humanitarian aid and further prisoner exchanges.

Source: APE/MEB