UN offers Russia a proposal to revive Ukrainian grain export

The UN has sent over proposals to Russia to revive grain deals.

The United Nations Secretary-General has sent over proposals for grain trade to the Russian Foreign Minister. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, provided Sergei Lavrov with proposals to revive the grain trade via the Black Sea. 

Russia had previously backed out of the deal brokered by the UN and Turkey. There were complaints that their own food and fertilizer exports were facing obstacles. The grains were not exported to countries in need.

The proposal letter follows up on the meeting held by President Vladimir Putin and President Tayyip Erdgagon of Russia and Turkey. According to sources, both leaders will meet on Monday to discuss exports through the Black Sea route. 

The was a global food crisis. The Russia-Ukraine conflict made the issue worse. The two nations are the top exporters of grains globally. 

UN Point of View

Guterres, Secretary-General, states that the proposal is such that it will warrant a renewal of the deal. He continues that the Black Sea deal must be stable and beneficial. An anonymous Russian source states that the new proposal sent to Sergei Lavrov consists of former UN ideas that did not work. 

Russian Point of View

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his Turkish Counterpart Hakan Fidan in Moscow. Following the meeting, Lavrov stated that there were no signs that the country would receive the guarantees to continue the trade. 

One of the main conditions is that the Russian Agricultural Bank should be with SWIFT, an international payment system. They also want to ensure that the food and fertilizer trade also increases. 

Guterres claims that measures are in place to make Russian food and fertilizer available globally.