(VOVWORLD) - The Kremlin on Wednesday reaffirmed its position on the Black Sea grain deal, but said it is ready to return to it "immediately" once the part that concerns Russia is implemented.
 Illustrative image (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the statement one day after the US envoy to the UN said there were "indications" that Russia might be interested in returning to discussions about the deal, which had allowed Ukraine to export grain by sea.
Peskov said President Putin has stated several times that Russia is ready to immediately return to the deal, but it must implement the part that concerns Russia. So far that has not been done.
The same day, Putin talked by phone with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, who said Turkey will continue to carry out intense efforts and diplomacy for the resumption of the Black Sea grain deal. He added that the long-term suspension of the initiative will not benefit anyone. Putin emphasized that Russia would return to the deal "as soon as the West actually fulfils all the obligations to Russia" contained within it.
On July 17 Russia withdrew from the deal which was negotiated in July, 2022, between Turkey, the UN, and Russia to allow the export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea. In return, the West removed barriers to the export of Russian food and fertilizer.