New proposals for renewal "grain deal"

Anadolu agency reports that the UN proposes to unlock the assets of fertilizer companies in Europe and connect the “daughter” of the Russian Agricultural Bank to SWIFT.

With the participation of Turkey, the United Nations prepared proposals for the resumption of the “grain deal”. At a joint press conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the UN had prepared a new package with Turkey’s participation, and they believe that this could be a good basis for reviving the initiative.

By data Anadolu, the most important elements of the proposals are the inclusion of the European subsidiary of the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) in the SWIFT system and the release of the frozen assets of Russian fertilizer companies in Europe. The publication says:

“While Turkey, coordinating its diplomatic efforts with the UN, continues to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative, other alternatives to this deal create security and cost problems.”

The publication reminds that among the requirements of the Russian Federation for the restoration of the “grain deal” there are such items as reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT system, resuming the supply of agricultural machinery and spare parts to Russia, lifting restrictions on ship insurance and a ban on access to ports.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, commented:

“A new set of UN proposals on a ‘grain deal’ involves reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT and unfreezing the assets of Russian companies, Anadolu, the state-owned Turkish agency, said. Previously, all this was also ‘implied’, but it never worked.”

Previously, the media reported that EU considers a proposal to create a subsidiary of the sanctioned Rosselkhozbank to restore its connection with the global financial network as a concession to Moscow in order to maintain the “grain deal”. On July 13, Reuters, citing sources, reported that UN Secretary General António Guterres offered Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend the “grain deal” in exchange for connecting the subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT.

On July 17, Russia announced the suspension of the “grain deal” and threatened “risks” to the parties that decide to continue the initiative without the participation of the Russian Federation. Moscow began massive shelling of the port infrastructure of Odessa and the Danube ports.

Yesterday, September 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed about the passage of two more courts along the Ukrainian temporary “grain corridor”.

“Two more vessels successfully passed our temporary” grain corridor. Ukraine is restoring true freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. Freedom requires determination.”

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