These are the Russian calls for an extension of the wheat deal:
- The Russian Agricultural Bank regains access to the Swift payment network
- Russia is again receiving agricultural equipment and spare parts
- Russian ships and goods will once again have access to foreign ports
- The ammonia pipeline between Ukraine and Russia is restarted
- Financial sanctions are lifted on Russian fertilizer companies
According to geopolitical analyst Alex Krijger, Russia is in a difficult position. “Russia will continue to increase pressure on Ukraine, without compromising relations with Turkey and countries in Africa and the Middle East that depend on wheat.”
Yet it appears that no new deal will be reached before the deadline expires. On March 16, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia sent a strong package of demands to the JCC by letter. According to Nebenzia, an extension of the wheat deal would only be possible if some “systematic problems” were resolved.
“Russia will not want to jeopardize relations with Turkey and countries in Africa and the Middle East that depend on wheat”
For example, the Russians want the Russian Agricultural Bank to be reconnected to the Swift payment network, sanctions on port access for Russian ships and goods to be lifted, and the accounts and financial assets of Russian fertilizer companies to be unfrozen.
The current grain deal was finalized in July last year, as a full-scale food crisis – particularly for African countries – loomed after the Russians blockaded Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations then set up a so-called Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul, made up of officials from each side.
Safe export
Ukraine was able to safely export grain and other food products through the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne. There would be no more attacks on merchant and civilian shipping in the Black Sea and no military vessels, aircraft or drones would be allowed to approach the corridor within ten nautical miles without permission from the JCC.
The deal was extended for 120 days in November and then for at least 60 days in March. This would automatically repeat, unless one party informs the other that they want to end or change the initiative.
The latter happened when the Russian letter was sent on March 16th. And since the last consultation in the JCC took place last week and a new appointment has not yet been set, the last vessel of the current grain agreement has probably left the port of Odessa today.
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