Russia can not agree with the situation around implementing the memorandum of the Russian Federation and the United Nations on the export of agricultural products, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told reporters on Monday.
"We have raised this problem. Obviously, we cannot agree with the current state of affairs because it contradicts those fundamental understandings that created the context for substantive work on the two documents," he said in response to a question about prolonging the grain deal.
Grushko pointed out that this deal is not a "one-time option," it is valid for 120 days, and after that the countries must consider its implementation. "If necessary, the corresponding agreement may be amended," the deputy minister explained.
According to him, evaluating the implementation of the memorandum shows that the West once again acted in bad faith. "The decisions made in the European Union on lifting the sanctions clearly show that the EU does not intend to act in accordance with the memorandum, which was signed in Istanbul," said Grushko.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the West is not fulfilling its promises to implement part of the Russian-UN memorandum and is not lifting logistical sanctions that prevent Russian grain and fertilizers from reaching markets.
A package of documents was signed in Istanbul on July 22 to solve the problem of food and fertilizer supplies on world markets. A memorandum between Russia and the UN records that the world organization is joining the effort to lift anti-Russian restrictions hindering exports of agricultural products and fertilizers. Another document sets a mechanism for exporting grain from Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea ports. Agreements between Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations call for the creation of a four-party coordination center, whose representatives will inspect vessels carrying grain to prevent arms smuggling and exclude provocations.
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Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS