Moscow demands lifting of export barriers for grain deal extension

Russia is linking its agreement to an extension of the grain deal with Ukraine to demands to remove Western restrictions on the export of its own agricultural goods.

"If Washington, Brussels and London are really interested in continuing food exports from Ukraine by sea, they have two months to remove from the scope of sanctions, with the help of the UN, the whole chain of operations related to Russian agricultural exports," Moscow's representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, said in New York late Friday.

Otherwise, he cast doubt on a new extension of the export agreement brokered last summer to allow millions of tons of trapped grain to leave Ukraine by ship.

After its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia used its warships to blockade Ukraine's Black Sea ports, shutting down supplies from one of the world's largest food exporters.

Global food prices reached new highs as a result while the likelihood of famine grew in many developing countries. The agreement reached last July, mediated by the UN and Türkiye, allowed for a resumption of grain exports.

Originally concluded for 120 days, the agreement was extended for another 120 days in autumn and recently for another 60 days before it was due to expire this Sunday.

Russia, also one of the world's largest grain exporters, is demanding the easing of Western sanctions on its own agricultural sector in return. Food is not on the sanctions list.

However, the sanctions restrict possibilities for loading and insuring ships and thus indirectly affect the agricultural sector. The obstruction of Russian food and fertiliser exports has a negative impact on developing countries, Nebenzya said.