Russia Remains Firm on Grain Supply Amid Western Sanctions, Amid Calls for UN Deal Renewal
During a Security Council session, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, asserted that Western sanctions continue to obstruct the export of agricultural products from Russia. He claimed that the sanctions framework still restricts Russia’s ability to move grain and other farm goods onto international markets, despite dialogue on the matter moving slowly at best. The representative pointed to ongoing restrictions as evidence that progress on the broader package discussed with the United Nations has stalled since its inception.
Nebenzya emphasized that for nearly a year there has been little to no advancement in the second component of the UN Secretary‑General’s package, known as the Russia‑UN Memorandum. He maintained that while some sanctions targets related to agricultural export operations have been retained, the central banking and broader financial mechanisms linked to agriculture remain constrained. He argued that this selective approach keeps the primary bank involved in agricultural exports, the Rosselkhozbank, under sanctions, effectively hampering Russia’s ability to fulfill its export commitments in this sector.
In Nebenzya’s assessment, Western sanctions not only persist but are unlikely to ease in the near term. He cautioned that the ongoing measures hamper the flow of agricultural products from Russia to global markets, creating a bottleneck for suppliers, buyers, and logistics providers involved in grain and other farm exports. The discussion underscored a broader concern that without meaningful relief or adjustment of the sanctions regime, shipments could face continued delays or reductions in volume, with ripple effects across international food supply chains.
Earlier remarks from UN representatives highlighted that negotiations over a grain agreement were expected to resume in the coming days. The focus remained on extending the grain accord and stabilizing supply routes to help avert potential disruptions in global food availability. According to UN officials, securing a continuation of the agreement is viewed as critical to sustaining exports and mitigating volatility in prices for buyers around the world, including markets in North America and beyond. The dialogue signaled that while the extension is seen as essential, concrete steps to implement it and ease disbursement impediments still required careful negotiation and alignment among involved parties.