Russia wants to use grain deal to unlock foreign assets

Moscow put forward further demands for Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia wants to use the "grain deal" to its advantage to unlock its foreign assets.

Rubryka reports, citing the statement of Russia's foreign ministry.

The Russian foreign ministry again accuses the UN of ignoring its demands. At the same time, Moscow published "five systemic problems" of the Black Sea agreement and threatened not to extend the deal after May 18.

Russia demands the lifting of some of the Western sanctions, in particular:

• reconnect the Russian bank Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT;
• resume export of agricultural machinery, spare parts, and service;
• lift insurance restrictions and port access bans;
• resume operation of the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline;
• unblock foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to producing and transporting food and fertilizers.

Reference

On March 18, Ukraine announced that the grain deal was extended for another 120 days.

However, Russia said they allegedly agreed to extend the agreement for only 60 days. Later, Moscow showed a list of demands regarding the grain agreement and threatened to withdraw.

This week, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine announced that Russia is blocking the "grain corridor," and the situation has reached a critical stage. Inspections of ships near the coast of Istanbul were suspended, but after regular negotiations on April 12, the inspection was resumed.