With progress stalled on the memorandum between Russia and the United Nations concerning the export of Russian agricultural products, Moscow has announced its willingness to suspend participation in the Ukrainian grain-export framework. The Russian Foreign Ministry characterized this move as a response to the current state of implementation and cited a need for concrete steps before any further engagement with the Black Sea initiative could be considered.
The ministry stressed that extending the Black Sea mechanism would hinge on the fulfilment of specified conditions tied to the Russia-UN agreement. It stated that for the grain deal to continue, Moscow expects several measures: Rosselkhozbank must be reconnected to the SWIFT network, supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts, and services must resume, and restrictions on insurance and reinsurance must be lifted. Additionally, access restrictions on ports must be removed, the operation of the ammonia pipeline linking Togliatti and Odessa must be restored, and the foreign assets and accounts of Russian entities involved in food and fertilizer production and transport must be unblocked. These steps are presented as prerequisites for any renewed Russian participation in the agreement.
Our participation in the Black Sea initiative will be suspended unless progress is made in the implementation of these non-negotiable conditions, according to the ministry. It further noted that the lack of progress in removing export restrictions has led Moscow to reduce the length of any extension to sixty days, a move described as a practical measure to align expectations with real progress on reforms and access. This stance was formally communicated to Turkish and Ukrainian counterparts as well as to UN officials, and the ministry reported no official objections to the approach.
Earlier, Ankara indicated ongoing discussions about reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT payment system, a step viewed as essential yet challenging by many observers. The message from Moscow underscores a cautious stance, signaling that meaningful concessions on the listed conditions are required before any new compromises can be considered. The most recent shipment previously covered by the grain agreement has passed out of the Black Sea, signaling a shift in the operational status of the initiative and underscoring the delicate balance between political negotiation and practical supply-chain realities that continues to frame this complex geopolitically charged issue. These developments reflect a broader pattern in which security, trade accessibility, and international finance intersect, shaping the trajectory of regional food security and export governance for both Russia and its global partners. Attribution: remarks from the Russian Foreign Ministry and related state communications.”