ANKARA, April 7. /TASS/. Russia will review the need for a grain deal if there is no further progress in removing obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizers and grain, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday at a press conference following talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
"Having extended this deal for a second period of 120 days, and seeing no signs that anyone can really solve these problems, tired of appealing to the conscience of those responsible for it, we escalated a little and proposed to extend this agreement only for 60 days, based on the fact that if there is no further progress in removing obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizers and grain, we will think whether this agreement is necessary," Lavrov said.
The minister remarked that, despite the facts that they are well aware of, Western colleagues never tire of repeating that neither fertilizers nor grain are sanctioned. "The sanction column really says nothing about neither fertilizers nor grain. But everything else is there, including the disconnection from the SWIFT system, the ability to insure and reinsure cargo under normal conditions, the ability for Russian ships to enter ports, for example, in the Mediterranean, the ability for foreign ships to enter Russian ports, and much more," he explained.
He added that Russia would work outside the framework of the grain deal if the Western countries don’t show constructive approach, there are opportunities to do this with Turkey and Qatar.
"If they [Western countries] do not have the desire to honestly approach what Mr. [UN Secretary General Antonio] Guterres has so persistently promoted, let them continue to ship the relevant products from Ukraine by land, by sea, by rail, by rivers, we have already created the appropriate logistics that work. And we will work, if necessary, even outside the framework of this initiative, we have the opportunity to do it with Turkey, with Qatar. The presidents discussed the relevant plans," Lavrov said.
At the same time, according to Lavrov, countries that need to import Russian food would not suffer if the deal on Ukrainian grain exports is terminated. "We will work, if necessary, even outside this initiative (grain deal - TASS). Our exports to countries in need will not be affected. I can promise this," he said.