Russian leader Vladimir Putin during a plenary session of the parliamentary conference “Russia-Africa in a multipolar world” said that in case of non-extension of the grain agreement, the Russian Federation is ready to provide free to Africa the planned volume .
“If we nevertheless decide not to renew this agreement after 60 days, then we are ready to deliver for free all the volume that has been sent to countries in Africa in particular in the past from Russia to these countries,” said the Russian president. said.
On the eve of the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that the grain agreement had been extended for only 60 days.
The “Grains Agreement” was concluded between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN in July 2022. It consists of two parts. The first concerns the creation of safe maritime corridors for the export of Ukrainian grain. Moscow and Kiev reached an agreement separately: each of the parties signed a document with the UN and Ankara. The duration of the transaction was 120 days, in November the parties extended it for another four months.
On March 14, the Russian Federation announced a further extension of the agreement, but for 60 days instead of 120.
The second part of the agreement was concluded by Russia and the UN. It provides that the international organization will contribute to the lifting of sanctions on the supply of Russian agricultural products to world markets, including: admission to ports and insurance of ships; deliveries of agricultural equipment and technologies to the Russian Federation; reconnect Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT.
Putin’s message that if the grain deal is not extended, the Russian Federation will provide free grain to Africa
