Russia is tying its cooperation in resuming Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea to the cessation of international sanctions against Russian agricultural exports. President Putin held talks on this matter on Tuesday in Tehran with his Turkish counterpart Erdogan.
Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine has obstructed shipments from one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat and other grains, raising fears of global food shortages.
Ukraine and Russia are conducting mediation talks under Turkish and UN auspices to unblock the crucial grain exports. “We will facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain, but we expect that all restrictions on possible deliveries for the export of Russian grain will be lifted,” Putin told reporters in Tehran after talks with the presidents of Iran and Turkey.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said Moscow had agreed to “basic principles” regarding a grain deal, but that the Ukrainian negotiators refused to include a clause protecting Russian agri-export.
Russia has therefore asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to intervene in the grain talks. Putin stated that the US has already lifted some sanctions, particularly against Russian fertilizer exports.
If Washington truly wants improvements in the global market, it must also lift punitive measures against Russian grain exports, Putin said.
As a contribution to the negotiations in Istanbul, the US Treasury Department last week clarified that involvement in Russian fertilizer and grain exports does not violate sanctions.
Moreover, this week the United States relaxed previously imposed import tariffs on raw materials for Russian fertilizer. The European Union is also discussing expanding possibilities for fertilizer imports.