MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. The upcoming talks between Russian and US technical groups will particularly address the Black Sea Initiative, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing.
"The presidents [of Russia and the US] also talked about reviving the Black Sea Initiative. There are numerous details that need to be discussed," he noted. According to Peskov, the technical groups will "particularly discuss these nuances."
"We have a rather vast experience in executing the Black Sea Initiative," Peskov pointed out with regard to the grain deal. "We respected all of its terms but the terms that concerned us were never carried out. This is why all details need to be sorted out before the process gets underway," he added.
US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff earlier announced plans to hold consultations in the Saudi city of Jeddah following talks between the US and Russian leaders. According to him, the agenda will include an energy infrastructure truce between Russia and Ukraine and a prohibition on strikes in the Black Sea.
The Black Sea Initiative, also known as the grain deal, was aimed at providing a safe corridor for the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports and also easing the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers. However, most of the Ukrainian grain was taken to the European countries, contrary to the agreement, while the main goal of the deal - ensuring grain supplies to the countries in need - was never achieved. Moreover, commitments to Russia weren’t fulfilled, which prompted Moscow to withdraw from the deal in July 2023.