EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano confirmed the fact of sending a letter to some countries urging them to put pressure on Russia to return to the grain deal.
“We expect the partners to take note of the explanations from this letter and to act to put pressure on Russia,” he told a European Commission briefing, without specifying which countries he was referring to. The briefing was broadcast on the EC’s website.
He said the letter did not require a response by a specific time and was sent as part of the EU’s efforts to “regulate international activity and put pressure on Russia to return to this very important initiative.”
Stano noted that they have yet to receive “any concrete responses” since the letter was sent.
Earlier, Agence France-Presse reported that the European Union urged G20 countries to pressure Russia to return to the grain deal.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported that Russia’s return to the grain deal is realistic, but it requires fulfilment of its obligations to the Russian Federation, which include lifting restrictions on disconnecting Rosselkhozbank from SWIFT.
The grain deal expired on 18 July, with Russia notifying Turkey, Ukraine and the UN of its objection to its extension. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously noted that the terms of the deal against Russia were not honoured despite UN efforts because Western countries were not going to keep their promises. Putin repeatedly pointed out that the West exported most of the Ukrainian grain to its own states, and the main goal of the deal – supplying grain to needy countries, including African countries – was never realised.
The Black Sea Initiative, which was signed by representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN on 22 July 2022, envisages the export of Ukrainian grain and food, as well as fertilizers, via the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa.
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