Russia is not interested in extending the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, the Russian news agency RIA reported on Sunday with reference to the Minister of Agriculture of Russia Dmytro Patrushev, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

The Russian official added that this is mostly a political decision, but Russia will continue to export grain because it has buyers.

“Our grain export volumes, taking into account the termination of the grain agreement, have not decreased in any way, they even increased a little,” Patrusev said, reports RIA.

In July, Russia withdrew from the agreement that allowed Ukraine to export grain through its ports on the Black Sea, Reuters reminds. Russia has argued that the deal does not ensure the supply of grain to the poorest countries and that Russian grain and fertilizer exports continue to face obstacles.

In early December, Ukraine said it had exported seven million tonnes of goods since the Black Sea corridor was established in August, despite Russian threats to retaliate against ships plying in the area.

For his part, Dmytro Patrushev said at the end of November that after a record harvest of more than 151 million tons of grain and vegetables, including almost 99 million tons of wheat, Russia will be able to cover its own needs and send record volumes. to “foreign partners”.

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