Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Ukraine receives contradicting signals about the future of the Grain Agreement
15.05.2023 - 16:30
Kyiv does not exclude the termination of the Black Sea grain initiative after May 18.
Olga Trofimtseva, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a briefing that Ukraine is receiving conflicting signals about the future of the Grain Agreement. The continuation of the “grain corridor” was discussed at the talks in Turkey last week, writes Reuters.
According to her, Moscow threatened to withdraw from the agreement on May 18, if a list of requirements to remove obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizers is not met.
“Such a rupture, an exit (of Russia) from the grain initiative is possible, but for everyone, and first of all for the Russian side, it will mean an escalation of the situation, and they will make it more difficult for themselves to take a further negotiating position,” Trofimtseva emphasized.
According to her, in April 2023, Ukraine exported 2.5 million tons of agricultural goods, despite difficulties in the work of the “grain corridor”.
As previously reported by USM, the UN does not have a “plan B” in case Russia withdraws from the Grain Agreement.
