US urges Russia to extend grain deal

The United States has called on Russia to extend the grain export deal through Black Sea ports, stressing its importance in alleviating food shortages around the world.
“We continue to urge Russia to do what is simply right, and that is to agree to extend and possibly expand the Black Sea Grains Initiative so that people around the world can continue to get the food they need,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
“Thanks to this important tool, food security concerns have eased,” he added.
Russia has said it will only agree to extend the agreement allowing the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports if the interests of its own farmers are taken into account.
The Black Sea Grains Initiative, brokered by the UN and Turkey last year, expires on March 18 and can only be extended with the consent of all parties. Russia has already expressed disappointment with some elements of the deal.
Western sanctions did not target Russian agricultural exports, but Moscow said restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance were an obstacle to Russian grain and fertilizer exports.
In talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlet Cavusoglu, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that “the continuation of the comprehensive grain agreement is possible only if the interests of Russian producers of agricultural products and fertilizers are taken into account,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. .
However, Price noted that “any country should strive not only to expand, but also to expand the Black Sea Grains Initiative, given its importance not only for the region, but for the whole world. , and there’s no reason for anything else.”