Russian grain broker statement: No new proposals

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that he has not heard of a new proposal for the Black Sea grain deal, which is set to expire on Monday, but that they are working with Turkey to secure Russia’s grain exports without no deal.

Asked by President Tayyip Erdogan about Putin’s remarks on the deal, Lavrov said: “I am not aware of any new proposals.” “Turkey was interested in helping to process our grain and participating in a scheme to help us supply wheat to developing countries regardless of anything or anyone,” the Russian minister said.

Russia has threatened to withdraw from the agreement on the grounds that its request to ensure exports of its grain products and fertilizers has not been met. The last two ships that will carry grain under the Black Sea deal are loading at the Ukrainian port of Odessa ahead of the completion date.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has offered Russian President Vladimir Putin an extension of the deal in exchange for Russia’s agricultural bank accessing SWIFT, the international payment messaging system, sources told Reuters. However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russia would not be happy with such a proposal because it would take months for the bank to set up a subsidiary, and then it would take another three months to connect this subsidiary to SWIFT.

Putin said the grain deal could end the argument that Western states are hypocritical about the obstacles Russia faces in exporting its agricultural products to the global market. (Reuters)