Russia says it will only renew grain deal if its own exports are unblocked

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov discussed the prospects of the deal's renewal on the sidelines of the G20 meeting.

 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of G20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi, India, March 1, 2023. (photo credit: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of G20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi, India, March 1, 2023.
(photo credit: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

Russia said on Wednesday it would only agree to extend the Black Sea grain deal, which allows grain to be safely exported from Ukrainian ports, if the interests of its own agricultural producers are taken into account.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last year, expires on March 18 and cannot be extended unless all parties agree.

Russia is unhappy with the deal

Russia has already signaled it is unhappy with aspects of the deal.

Russia's agricultural exports have not been explicitly targeted by Western sanctions, but Moscow says restrictions on its payments, logistics and insurance industries are a "barrier" to it being able to export its own grains and fertilizers.

Moscow's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had discussed the prospects for renewing the deal at a meeting with his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi.

 A motorist rides past a hoarding decorated with flowers to welcome G20 foreign ministers in New Delhi, India, March 1, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMIT DAVE)
A motorist rides past a hoarding decorated with flowers to welcome G20 foreign ministers in New Delhi, India, March 1, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMIT DAVE)

"(The) Russian side stressed that continuing the package agreement on grain is possible only if the interests of Russian agricultural and fertilizer producers in terms of unhindered access to world markets are taken into account," the ministry said in a statement.