The UN is making efforts to better respond to Russia's problems on the grain deal, but indirect obstacles to food and fertilizer exports remain, Secretary General of the organization, António Guterres, said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais published on Tuesday.
"We are fully engaged to try to keep the initiative," he assured. "We are preparing a meeting of the four parties (Russia, Ukraine, the UN and Türkiye) in Istanbul and are doing our best to better respond to Russian problems."
"True, the export of food and fertilizers is not under sanctions, but there are indirect obstacles that remain, and we are trying to eliminate them, as well as solve the problems that exist with inspections that are suspended in the Black Sea,” the UN Secretary General said. He added that this is done to achieve a longer and more perfect continuation of the initiative".
A package of documents on the supply of food and fertilizers to the international market was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. Initially, the agreements were concluded for 120 days, in November last year they were extended for the same period. On March 18 this year, Russia announced a 60-day extension of the deal, warning that this would be enough time to evaluate the implementation of the memorandum signed with the UN.