A senior Russian diplomat emphasized that tangible results from the Russia–UN Memorandum of Understanding and the removal of sanctions on agricultural exports are essential for any renewal of the grain agreement. Without clear progress on easing barriers to Russian farm products and guarantees that supplies do not get diverted for non-humanitarian aims, extending the current framework would be ill-advised.
The grain accord comprises two interlinked components: the year-long Russia–UN Memorandum aimed at normalizing Russian exports of agricultural goods and fertilizers, and the Black Sea initiative that governs Ukrainian food shipments. Both parts were signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, marking a bilateral and multinational effort to address global food security amid ongoing tensions.
Recent discussions have seen the pact extended through March of the following year. The negotiators made it evident that the extension serves to reinforce the linkage between the two instruments, while also underscoring that the use of humanitarian corridors in the Black Sea for military or other non-civilian purposes is unacceptable and risks undermining the broader humanitarian purpose of the agreement.
The statement further argued that without measurable improvements in the implementation of the Russia–UN Memorandum and the removal of sanction barriers affecting agricultural shipments, as well as the elimination of geographical and terminological distortions that can skew how grain movements are described and understood, the extension loses its practical value. The concern was that grain flows could predominantly advantage wealthier importing nations, which would defeat the stated objectives of supporting global food stability and accessible pricing for all regions.
In related commentary, a former high-ranking Russian official suggested that the European Union has not fully delivered on the promises embedded in the grain arrangement. This perspective reflects ongoing debates about the efficacy of international commitments in stabilizing markets and ensuring fair access to essential commodities for diverse economies across Europe and beyond.