- Despite the war in Ukraine, the governments of Russia and Ukraine had agreed that they would allow the export of crops since July 2022. On Monday Vladimir Putin decided not to extend, arguing that the UN was not complying with what was agreed.
The export of cereals in the Black Sea was blocked by the war in Ukraine, and in July 2022 an agreement was signed between the Russian and Ukrainian authorities to ensure that they did not attack the vessels carrying cereals. According to Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), this pact has made it possible to “save” millions of hungry people. 32.9 million tonnes of crops exported during this year, he recalled elDiario.es.
The pact has been extended three times, but recently, in May, Russia agreed to extend only 60 days and not 120 days agreed in the text. Monday was the last day of the pact and the Russian Government has decided not to extend it, complying with the threat of recent weeks.
Kremlin spokeswoman Dmitri Peskov announced the suspension of the agreement, saying: “The part of the pact affecting Russia has not been complied with so far.” It warns that in the event of non-compliance the pact will be suspended. The Russian Foreign Ministry has stressed that it would be willing to resume the agreement “if there are concrete results, not promises and guarantees”.
Indeed, the 2022 pact determined that the UN would help Russia export food and fertilizers to international markets, but Russia has denounced that obstacles are being put in place. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that “it was a great disappointment” that Russia “did not listen” to its proposals, as global “food security” has been put at risk following the withdrawal of the Black Sea agreement. However, it acknowledges that it is aware that “there are still some obstacles in the international market for Russian food and fertilizers”.
Representatives of the UN and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an essential intermediary in signing the treaty, have shown their intention to continue negotiating. Erdogan explains that he believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants” to follow the Black Sea agreement. Following these statements, the Russian agency Tass has announced that a Russian UN representative has clarified that the decision is final and that they will not continue to negotiate, as it has received elDiario.es. Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, and Hakan Fidan, from Turkey, have shown their readiness to discuss, according to The Guardian.
It remains to be seen whether they will open the Black Sea gateway to cereal exports or whether they will bring about changes in the food market in the hands of multinationals.