Russia today demanded the lifting of Western restrictions against Russian agribusiness, threatening to end the May 18 agreement allowing Ukrainian grain exports.

In its statement, Russian diplomacy put forward five demands, including the reconnection of Rosselkhozbank Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT international banking system, the resumption of supplies of agricultural machinery and components to Russia, and the removal of obstacles to ensure access of ships to foreign ports.

He also called for the unfreezing of the assets of Russian companies associated with the agricultural sector located abroad and the reopening of the Togliatti-Odessa pipeline, which connects Russia with Ukraine and allows the supply of ammonia, a chemical used in agriculture.

“Without progress in solving these five systemic problems (…), there can be no question of extending the Black Sea Initiative (grain agreement) after May 18,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

An agreement reached last July to allow Ukrainian grain to be exported across the Black Sea despite the war was extended on March 19. To date, it is allowed to export at least 27 million tons of agricultural products.

Moscow has pushed for a 60-day extension of the agreement instead of the original 120 days, insisting on honoring the other part of the agreement regarding its own agricultural exports, which continues to be thwarted by Western sanctions.

Russian agricultural products are not subject to sanctions, but trade could be hampered by the restrictions now facing Russian banks and state-owned companies. In addition, the Russian authorities and domestic industry are systematically forcing many large international grain trading companies to leave the country.

According to APE-MPE, AFP, Reuters