Gavrilov Identified as the Threatening Weapon in Grain Deal

Vienna, May 3 – The real “weapon” threatening the extension of the grain deal is the terrorist actions of the Kiev regime against ships involved in ensuring the security of the “grain corridor”, as well as non-compliance with the terms of the deal in part of the Russian agricultural sector, said the head of the Russian delegation to the talks in Vienna on security issues. Military and arms control Konstantin Gavrilov.

The real “weapon” that threatens the extension of the “Black Sea Initiative” to export agricultural products from Ukraine and a similar commitment of Russia to remove barriers to the export of grain or fertilizers are the terrorist actions of the Kiev regime against the ships involved. Speaking on Wednesday at a plenary meeting of the OSCE forum for security cooperation, Gavrilov said “in ensuring the security of the ‘grain corridor’, as well as not fulfilling the terms of the deal with regard to the Russian agricultural sector.”

The diplomat added that the Russian side does not yet see “the desire of the counterparties to achieve what is really necessary for the successful implementation of the initiative of the UN Secretary-General on a comprehensive approach to the export of agricultural products from Ukraine and Russia.”

Gavrilov also noted that Moscow categorically rejects “the unfounded statements of the OSCE participating countries that the Russian Federation uses the food problem as a ‘weapon'”, which was expressed at the forum on Wednesday.

“We understand that Western colleagues are not used to turning to facts, but they speak for themselves: since August 1, 2022, as part of the implementation of the” Mutual Understanding Initiative for the Safe Transport of Grains from the Ports of Ukraine “about 29 million tons of food have been exported on 917 ships on board.

The head of the Russian delegation also pointed out that the Ukrainian armed formations carried out mining work in the Odessa region and part of the Black Sea last year. The diplomat cited data from the Russian Federal Security Service, according to which anti-personnel mines were buried in the sands along the coast, and about 420 well-established river mines were installed in the waters off the coasts of Odessa, Ochakov, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny.

At the same time, he said, in March 2022 it became known that some sea mines drifted along the Black Sea and freely reached the Bosphorus Strait.

“The result is the blowing up of military and civilian ships of coastal states with floating mines. All this once again demonstrates the catastrophic consequences of the irresponsible and reckless actions of the Ukrainian authorities. The Russian Federation is taking the necessary measures to ensure the safety of civilian navigation in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas, ”- said Gavrilov.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed on July 22, 2022 by representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations, involves the export of Ukrainian grain, food and fertilizers across the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa. Ship movement is coordinated by the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul. Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated in September that the West exports most of Ukraine’s grain to its own countries, not to needy countries in Africa. As of March 18, 2023, Russia has extended the deal by 60 days — until May 18, Ukraine insists the deal be extended by 120 days.

The Black Sea Beans initiative is an integral part of the agreement package. The second part – the Russia-UN memorandum, designed for a period of three years – provides for the lifting of the ban on Russian exports of food and fertilizers, the reconnection of Rosselkhozbank with SWIFT, the resumption of the supply of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services, the restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline and a number of other measures . As noted in Moscow, this part of the agreement package has not yet been implemented.