The United Nations has played a role in easing Western sanctions related to Russia’s agricultural exports. This assessment comes from the UN’s official communications, as cited by TASS. The UN notes that trade disruptions persist and that they are actively building the legal groundwork to ease access for Russian goods and fertilizers to global markets.
According to the UN, steps have been taken to enable smoother issuance of General Licenses. These include US General Licenses 6B and 6C, two UK General Licenses that cover financial and commercial activities in the food and fertilizer sectors, and a ninth package of EU sanctions relief. The statements are tied to the ongoing grain agreement and its implementation, signaling a coordinated international effort to mitigate barriers for Russian shipments.
The UN also indicated ongoing work to identify practical solutions that would remove obstacles to supplying Russian products and fertilizers to African nations, highlighting a broader humanitarian aim alongside trade considerations.
There have been prior discussions in the European Union about reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT network to support the grain deal. Such a move would potentially facilitate smoother financial transactions linked to the exchange of grain and related commodities.
Earlier, statements from Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned that if Rosselkhozbank remains off SWIFT, the grain agreement could face an expiration risk around mid-July. The matter underscores how financial access ties directly to the durability of the deal and the stability of global grain supplies.
Additionally, former Russian ambassador to the United Nations spoke about possibilities for extending the grain agreement, signaling that dialogue among key international players continues to shape the arrangement and its longevity.