MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. Russian negotiators in Riyadh urged the United States to consider the reasons behind the failure of the Black Sea initiative, emphasizing that Moscow would not tolerate any ambiguity regarding proposals related to the Black Sea, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Channel One.
According to the minister, the West has consistently acted to benefit Ukraine and penalize Russia in matters concerning the implementation of the Black Sea initiative.
"That is why our negotiators, appointed by President Vladimir Putin, asked their American counterparts in Riyadh to keep these issues in mind. Given Ukraine's track record and the entire Black Sea saga, we expect there to be no ambiguity this time," Lavrov emphasized.
He also recalled that under the grain deal, which was in effect from 2022 to 2023, discriminatory measures against the supply of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products to global markets were to be lifted. However, instead of advocating for the removal of these sanctions, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "chose to search for loopholes in the sanctions," effectively enforcing them, which is "unacceptable for any UN official, let alone the Secretary-General."