Kremlin rejects UN chief's call to return to Black Sea grain deal
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it is impossible for Russia to return to the Black Sea grain export deal until an agreement related to Russia's interests is honored, rejecting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' call for Moscow to join in, Reuters reports.
Guterres on Monday called on Russia to allow Ukraine to export grain safely from its seaports, despite Russia's so-called special operation.
The Kremlin suggested Guterres' proposal did not address its main grievance - there had been no progress on a related agreement that was designed to facilitate Russian food and fertiliser exports amid Western sanctions imposed in response to the war.
"Indeed, Mr Guterres' letter again set out a kind of action plan with promises that at some point it would be possible to meet the Russian side's request. Unfortunately, at the moment, it is impossible to return to the agreement, because it is not implemented and de facto has never been implemented," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, was intended to help prevent a global food crisis by allowing the safe export of grain blocked by the war in Ukraine.
Peskov said it would be important for Russia to discuss grain supplies with African countries at a Russia-Africa summit this week
Russia has mentioned the possibility of providing cheap or free grain to the poorest nations in Africa.
