Ukraine does not rule out suspension of the grain corridor after May 18: no talks planned this week

Ukraine does not rule out the possibility that the agreement allowing safe exports of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports will expire on May 18. No additional negotiations are planned this week.

This was stated by Olga Trofimtseva, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, coordinator of the Council of Exporters and Investors, Reuters reports.

According to her, Ukraine is receiving conflicting signals about the future of the grain deal, the extension of which was discussed at talks in Turkey last week.

“The situation after the talks has not changed much, and we are receiving quite contradictory information about the grain deal and the possibility of its extension,” she said.

Moscow has threatened to withdraw from the agreement on May 18 if a list of requirements to remove obstacles to grain and fertilizer exports from Russia is not met.

Trofimtseva noted that the Ukrainian side does not rule out the termination of the corridor after May 18.

“Russia’s withdrawal from the grain initiative is possible, but for everyone, and especially for the Russian side, it will mean an escalation of the situation, and Russia will weaken its further negotiating position,” Trofimtseva emphasized.

She added that in April, Ukraine exported 2.5 million tons of agricultural products through the grain corridor, despite the obstacles and Russian inspections of ships.

Trofimtseva emphasized that the negative consequences of the grain corridor shutdown will be felt almost immediately by those countries that receive humanitarian food from Ukraine, as they are unable to accumulate sufficient stocks.

On March 18, Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said that the grain agreement, which aims to guarantee the safe passage of ships from Ukrainian Black Sea ports to export food, had been extended for another 120 days.

In turn, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that the country has agreed to extend the initiative for only 60 days, i.e. until May 18. Moscow has threatened to withdraw from the agreement if a number of conditions are not met. These included unblocking the foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to food and fertilizers, as well as resuming the supply of agricultural machinery, spare parts, and service. Russia also wants to restore the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline and reconnect Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT system.

Deputy Foreign Minister of the aggressor country Sergey Vershinin said that the grain deal “will cease to exist” if Russia does not receive guarantees of fulfillment of its demands by May 18.

On May 10-11, representatives of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the UN met in Istanbul. Following the meeting, the Turkish Ministry of Defense reported that the parties agreed to continue negotiations on the grain initiative.

Tags: Ukraine, export, grain, Black Sea grain corridor