WASHINGTON, March 14. /TASS/. The US Administration disagrees with the idea that the exemptions from Western sanctions against Russia regarding the export of food and fertilizer do not work, US Department of State Spokesman Ned Price said Monday, commenting on statements made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.
"We find it difficult to believe that when we know, and the rest of the world knows, that Russia’s exports of food and fertilizer are back up to pre-war levels. This has been the case for some time now, but when we hear the Russians saying that they are being held back from exporting grain, from exporting fertilizer, it’s just not true," Price said, commenting on Vershinin’s words.
Previously, the Russian deputy foreign minister underscored that "barriers still remain before Russian agricultural exporters." The "sanctions exemptions for food and fertilizers," stated by Brussels, Washington and London "do not work," Vershinin said.
"We’ve heard a number of excuses from Russia in recent days and weeks as to why the Black Sea Grain Initiative might not be extended. We believe it boils down to the fact that the world needs this Black Sea Grain Initiative," Price said.
The US official underscored that the US advocates the expansion and prolongation of this initiative.
"We are at a critical moment in these negotiations," he said.
He also refrained from commenting on Vershinin’s words that Russia agrees to the extension of the grain initiative, but only for 60 days.
"We’re going to let the parties themselves speak to it before we do," he said.