Russia has no objections against the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative but for two months only, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told reporters on Monday after consultations with UN representatives.
"The Russian side, noting the package nature of Istanbul agreements suggested by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, does not object to the next renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative after lapse of the second deadline on March 18 but for 60 days only," Vershinin said.
What was discuss in Geneva
Talks in Geneva were "detailed and frank," the Russian diplomat said. Consultations confirmed again that while commercial exports of Ukrainian products are being made at a steady pace with huge profits for Kiev, then "barriers remain on the path of Russian agricultural exporters, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Sanction exemptions for food and fertilizers declared by Washington, Brussels and London do not actually work," he noted.
Russia's conditions
The position of Russia will be determined further on depending on the actual progress in normalizing Russian agricultural exports. It includes bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, 'unfreezing' of financial activities and ammonia supplies via the Tolyatti-Odessa pipeline, Vershinin said.
