The UN secretary-general has proposed a “way forward” that would allow an extension of the Ukrainian grain export deal, his office said on Monday after meeting with Russia’s foreign minister in New York.

António Guterres handed Sergei Lavrov a “letter to President (of Russia) Vladimir Putin outlining proposed ways to improve, extend and expand” the agreement, which allows Ukrainian grain exports from July 2022 through the Black Sea despite the armed conflict. to the statement.

A similar letter was sent to “two other contracting parties” to the agreement, which is considered key to global food security, i.e. Ukraine and Turkey.

The Initiative for the Safe Export of Grain and Food from Ukrainian Ports, or the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was extended for the second time on March 19. But Russia insisted on a 60-day extension rather than 120, citing its objections to a parallel deal to export its own agricultural products, especially fertilizers, which is being blocked by Western sanctions.

In mid-April and again on Monday, Moscow threatened to end the May 18 deal if its terms were not met, in particular if it did not remove barriers to its own agricultural exports and connect to its SWIFT international banking system. Rosselkhozbank specializing in transactions with agricultural products.

The UN Secretary-General “recorded the concerns of the Russian Federation” about the implementation of the agreement on the export of its own food and fertilizers and “submitted a detailed report on the progress made” on this issue, according to his services. stressed that the UN will “continue its work” to “resolve the remaining problems.”

But “so far there hasn’t been much progress,” Sergey Lavrov commented, according to a statement from his services, citing a lack of “the will of Western countries to really do what is necessary to successfully implement” both aspects of the folder. . “We will study the ideas that (the UN Secretary General) presented to us in writing,” he added.

In addition, Mr. Guterres expressed “concern” about “recent obstacles” in the “daily work” of the Coordinating Center for the implementation of the agreement, which involves representatives of the four parties (Ukraine, Russia, UN, Turkey). .

Last week, inspections of ships carrying Ukrainian grain were temporarily suspended.

Source: RES-IPE