The United States hopes that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will persuade Russia to rejoin the Black Sea grain initiative during a series of high-level engagements set for the week. This was conveyed by the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in a briefing drawn from current reporting. Officials from Washington emphasize that the Secretary-General has kept up discussions with a range of partners in a bid to convince Moscow to return to the agreement, with the aim of reopening routes for grain shipments from Ukrainian ports.
Guterres had indicated that a high-level meeting would be arranged on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. The talks would involve Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, focusing on the future of the grain initiative and the pathways to restore safe maritime corridors in the Black Sea. The goal is to secure a durable framework that satisfies the needs of Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, and other stakeholders while facilitating global food security.
In parallel, the spokespeople for the Justice and Development Party underscored the necessity of continuing the grain agreement under UN auspices, with active participation by Moscow and Kiev. They stressed that the mechanism should remain in force so long as the involved sides uphold their commitments and the humanitarian objectives are met.
Recently, a Kremlin spokesperson stated that progress on the grain agreement had stalled and that there had been little movement toward restarting it. The official noted that the delay hinders the ability to restore normal grain exports from Ukraine and to stabilize market conditions that affect major importing countries.
Earlier remarks from the Russian Minister of Agriculture reiterated that Moscow’s terms for the grain agreement remained unmet. Dmitry Patrushev suggested that the ministry expects those conditions to be implemented and fulfilled for the agreement to resume functioning effectively. He indicated a continued emphasis on safeguards and guarantees that align with Russia’s agricultural exports and regional interests.
There has also been commentary from Turkish leadership emphasizing a steadfast commitment to honoring the promises tied to the grain deal. Turkish officials have framed the agreement as an essential element of regional stability and global food supply, while urging swift action to bring all parties back to the negotiating table. The broader international community watches closely as negotiations unfold, seeking clarity on timelines, compliance, and enforcement mechanisms that could prevent future disruptions to grain shipments from the Black Sea region.