EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano told the newspaper that the bloc decided not to reconnect Rosselkhozbank to the international SWIFT payment network. The move is part of sanctions that EU members and their partners have imposed in response to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Officials have made clear that these sanctions would only be eased or removed after the conflict ends, a timeline that remains uncertain as events unfold on the ground.
Stano emphasized that the ongoing war in Ukraine worsens global food-security concerns and continues to disrupt the flow of food and agricultural goods through the Black Sea region. This disruption affects farmers, exporters, and buyers who rely on stable trade routes to move grain, fertilizers, and other essential products to markets that need them most.
According to the spokesman, EU sanctions do not target trade in agricultural and food products themselves—such as wheat and fertilizers—between third countries and Russia. He noted that payment channels between countries still exist, though the overall framework of sanctions constrains certain financial arrangements and oversight mechanisms designed to limit Russia’s access to international finance.
At a separate public gathering, Dmitry Patrushev, the Russian Minister of Agriculture, stated during the plenary session of the All-Russian Grain Forum that restrictions on Russian grain exports under the grain agreement have not yet been lifted. This acknowledgment underscores the ongoing negotiation dynamics surrounding how and when export limits might change in response to shifting political and economic conditions.
The broader context shows a complicated web of sanctions, trade rules, and security concerns that continue to shape global agricultural markets. Analysts monitor how changes in SWIFT access, maritime routes, and sanction exemptions might influence prices, supply chains, and farm-level decisions across North America and beyond. Observers also weigh the potential ripple effects on fertilizer availability, crop insurance, freight costs, and the ability of importing countries to secure reliable food supplies during months of volatility. The situation remains fluid, with policymakers facing tough choices about maintaining pressure versus stabilizing global food markets. In this environment, transparent communication about sanctions, exemptions, and contingency plans becomes crucial for producers and buyers alike, as they navigate a landscape defined by geopolitical risk and interdependent supply chains. [Source: EU official statements and subsequent remarks by Russian and European agricultural leaders with attribution to official briefings and public remarks].