Senior EU official calls on Russia to renew Black Sea grain deal

A senior European Union official on Saturday urged Russia to renew the Black Sea grain export deal, which expired last month.

European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said Russian restrictions on the shipping of Ukrainian grains via the Black Sea were creating problems not only for Kiev but for many developing countries as well.

Dombrovskis stressed that EU supports all efforts by United Nations and Türkiye on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, adding the bloc was providing alternative trading routes to Ukraine for grain and other exports.

So far, some 45 million tons of grain, oil seeds and related products have been exported through alternative routes via Poland and Romania, Dombrovskis said.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told media on Friday that Russia's position has not changed.

Russia will fully return to the grain deal if relevant parties fulfill their promises and doesn't shy away from dialog on this issue, he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Kiev on Friday, and discussed the Black Sea grain export deal.

Later on the day, Fidan said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba that the resumption of the Black Sea grain deal is a priority for Ankara, and it will continue to make efforts.

Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Türkiye and the United Nations the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022, which allowed Ukraine to export its grain and other agricultural products from its Black Sea ports.

The initiative, which was initially valid for 120 days, was extended in mid-November 2022 for another 120 days till March 18, 2023.

Then, Russia agreed to extend the deal for only 60 days. On May 17, Russia agreed to extend the deal for another 60 days.

Source: CCTV

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