United States: Russia may be interested in returning to Black Sea food export agreement negotiation ports | United Nations | Black Sea
According to Reuters, on August 1st local time, Linda Thomas Greenfield, the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, stated that the United States has been informed that Russia is preparing to return to negotiations on the resumption of agreements for the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports, but no evidence has been seen so far.
According to reports, Thomas Greenfield emphasized on the same day that if Russia wants to push its fertilizers to the global market and promote agricultural transactions, then the Russian side "will have to return to this agreement." We have seen signs that Russia may be interested in returning to negotiations. Therefore, we will wait and see if this really happens. "Thomas Greenfield did not disclose more details, but pointed out that UN Secretary General Guterres is continuing to work to find ways for Russia to rejoin the agreement.
Putin recently criticized the West for obstructing Russia's food supply to Africa
Just a few days ago, Russian President Putin stated during the second Russia Africa Summit held in St. Petersburg that the Black Sea Port Agricultural Products Export Agreement aims to ensure food security for African countries, but Western countries use the agreement to mainly transport Ukraine's exported food to European countries, while African countries that truly need food only receive a 3% share. He also criticized Western countries for obstructing Russia's supply of food to African countries, while hypocritically accusing Russia of the current global food market situation.
Agreement to Stop Ukraine's Export of Agricultural Products to the European Union Blocked
Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement on the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports with Türkiye and the United Nations last July. The agreement expired on July 17. The validity period of the agreement has been extended three times, during which Russia has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of certain aspects of the agreement, believing that Russian agricultural products and fertilizer exports are still hindered by Western sanctions.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on July 17th that it has decided not to extend the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports. After the agreement was suspended, the Black Sea Grain Port was sealed, and Ukraine attempted to export agricultural products to the European Union by land. However, several Central and Eastern European member states within the EU, including Poland, expressed doubts about this transit route, fearing that Ukrainian agricultural products entering the country would impact their own market and affect the interests of their farmers. They demanded that the EU ensure that Ukrainian exported agricultural products are only transported through the country and not sold.