In a discussion with the UN Secretary-General, Sergei Lavrov conveyed that tangible progress remains elusive regarding Russia’s component of the grain agreement, a setback he attributed to Western positions. The Russian side argues that the core terms tied to stable grain shipments from Ukraine have not seen meaningful movement in their implementation within the memorandum between Moscow and the UN Secretariat.
Earlier remarks from Lavrov indicated that while a letter presented by Antonio Guterres contained proposals on the grain accord, Moscow does not perceive a real intent by Western partners to fulfill those ideas. The Russian foreign minister emphasized skepticism about whether the UN and its allies are genuinely advancing the Russian segment of the deal.
During a press briefing held after a visit to Cuba, Lavrov voiced confusion about the UN’s approach to promoting the Russian portion of the grain agreement, suggesting a misalignment between stated aims and on-the-ground actions.
On April 19, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin provided an update on UN efforts to date. He stated that the measures proposed by the UN have not produced full implementation of the Russian segment of the grain deal. He noted that while the arrangement has not completely ceased to function, it remains in a state where the Russian side sees ongoing dynamics rather than full execution [Citation: Foreign Policy Department].