In the text reported that on March 18, the second 120-day period of the “Black Sea Initiative” for the export of Ukrainian food products expired. But “due to the lack of progress in the implementation of the Russia-UN memorandum on the normalization of national agricultural exports, Moscow has decided to shorten the next extension period to 60 days, that is, until ‘to May 18’.
The Foreign Ministry officially communicated this decision to the Turkish and Ukrainian parties of the “Black Sea Initiative”, as well as to the representatives of the UN, and there were no objections.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also indicates that “a further decision to extend the initiative will depend on the progress made in the implementation of the following conditions within the framework of the implementation of the Russia-UN memorandum: reconnection of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT; resumption of the supply of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services; cancellation of restrictions on insurance and reinsurance and lifting of the ban on access to ports” and a few others.
“If we do not make progress in meeting these requirements,” the document states, “our participation in the Black Sea Initiative will be suspended.
The Foreign Ministry also recalls that the “Black Sea Initiative” and the Russia-UN Memorandum are elements of a set of agreements proposed by UN Secretary General A. Guterres and signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. Their implementation must be simultaneous and interconnected. .
It is also alleged that “so far, only the Ukrainian part of the ‘package’ has been implemented, and within parameters that fall far short of the declared humanitarian objectives”.
At the same time, “Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers, including the operation of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, remain blocked due to unilateral Western sanctions and political games of Kiev”.
At the same time, the Foreign Ministry reports that “even the free transfer of Russian fertilizers (262,000 tons) to the poorest countries is carried out with great difficulties and delays” and “a single supply (20,000 tonnes) was made in Malawi in six months.”
