The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the reinstatement of the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, is contingent upon the fulfillment of several conditions.
This statement alludes to a previous agreement where Russia’s concerns were purportedly disregarded, Reuters reported.
Kremlin’s conditions for deal revival
The deal, which allowed for the safe export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea, was crucial in mitigating global food shortages.
However, in 2023, Moscow withdrew from the 2022 UN- and Turkey-brokered Black Sea Grain deal, citing unfulfilled promises to ease Russian food and fertilizer exports.
The Kremlin’s insistence on preconditions underscores the complexities surrounding the resumption of the deal and highlights the need for a balanced approach that addresses the concerns of all parties involved.
US-brokered agreements
The US has successfully brokered separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia, aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict.
The core component of these agreements involves a cessation of hostilities within the Black Sea region and a commitment to halt attacks targeting crucial energy infrastructure.
In a significant move, the US has also pledged to advocate for the lifting of specific sanctions that have been imposed on Moscow.
Although Western sanctions do not directly target Russian exports of food and fertilizer, Moscow contends that these sanctions have created obstacles to shipments.
These obstacles arise from restrictions imposed on payments, logistics, and insurance, which have significantly impacted Russia’s ability to export these essential goods.
Russia’s SWIFT request
Russia has also been seeking to reintegrate its state agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, into the SWIFT international payments system.
This move is seen as crucial for facilitating international trade and financial transactions for the Russian agricultural sector.
However, the reconnection to SWIFT is not solely within Russia’s control.
It would necessitate agreement and cooperation from European countries, who currently hold significant influence within the SWIFT network due to existing sanctions and geopolitical tensions.
The potential reconnection of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT could be part of a broader negotiation or agreement between Russia and European nations.
This agreement may involve concessions or compromises from both sides, potentially including the easing of certain sanctions or restrictions on Russia in exchange for fulfilling specific conditions or commitments.
Potential repercussions
The implications of such a move are multifaceted. For Russia, it would signify a step towards normalising its financial relations with the international community and bolstering its agricultural exports.
For European countries, it could represent an opportunity to foster economic cooperation and potentially influence Russia’s behavior in other areas.
However, it could also face criticism from those who view it as appeasing Russia or undermining existing sanctions.
“As for the Black Sea grain initiative, it can be activated after a number of conditions are implemented,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
These are the same conditions that were included in the (original) Black Sea Initiative…all the conditions of which were fulfilled except for those concerning the Russian side. So, of course, this time round justice must prevail and we will continue our work with the Americans.
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