Difficulties in Grain Deal Arise from Actions of Kyiv and the UN, Says Zakharova

Currently, difficulties are emerging in the framework of the grain deal regarding inspections of vessels at the Istanbul Joint Coordination Center. This information was shared today by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“At present, there are indeed difficulties arising on the Istanbul Joint Coordination platform concerning the registration of new vessels and the conduct of inspections. These difficulties arise exclusively from the actions of Ukrainian representatives, as well as the actions of the UN, which, most likely, do not want or cannot cope with them,” Zakharova's commentary published on the ministry's website states.

It is reported that as a result of such actions, the share of Ukrainian food recipients in needy countries has decreased and reached a minimum level—out of the 28.3 million tons exported, only 742 thousand tons (2.6 percent) have reached them.

In this situation, according to her, the only way to restore even some level of fairness and transparency to the participation in the initiative is through the registration of vessels, which Russian experts carry out strictly within the established procedural rules and their corresponding authorities.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry added that Russia's proposal to include in the registration lists those vessels that would then head to needy countries, particularly in Africa, as well as those that have been waiting in line for more than a month, has been received very sharply by the Ukrainian representatives.

It should be noted that the grain deal, signed on July 22, 2022, by representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UN, envisages the export of Ukrainian grain, food, and fertilizers from three ports in the Black Sea, including Odesa. The coordination of the movement of vessels is handled by the joint coordination center. The deal was extended for 60 days on March 18, 2023, until May 18.