UN representatives will hold talks with a Russian delegation in Geneva next week, said “RIA News” diplomatic source in the organization on Tuesday, March 7.
According to him, most likely, the meeting will deal with the export of Russian grain and fertilizers.
Earlier this day, it was reported that UN Secretary General António Guterres would arrive in Kyiv on March 8 to discuss with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the extension of the grain deal.
Vladimir Kashin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues, said yesterday that Moscow can do without participating in the grain deal, since it has other ways to sell its products. He also added that the initial agreements on the deal, set by Russia, are being ignored. At the same time, the parliamentarian stressed that Russia has never refused negotiations.
Before that, on March 2, the Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out that Western countries were sabotaging the grain deal. Based on the document published by the ministry, eight months after its conclusion, only one part of the package is being implemented – on the export of Ukrainian food. Also, shortly before this, it was noted that the grain deal could not be extended until a number of issues were resolved, including the delivery of grain to starving countries.
The food deal was concluded on July 22, 2022 in Istanbul. Then Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and UN Secretary General António Guterres signed a memorandum on facilitating the supply of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to world markets. At the same time, the Ukrainian delegation signed an agreement with Turkey and the UN on the export of grain. In November, the contract was extended for 120 days.
