Riyadh: The Kremlin has announced that the forthcoming discussions between Russia and the United States, set to occur in Saudi Arabia, regarding the potential revival of the Black Sea Grain Initiative are expected to be challenging. Delegations from Washington and Moscow are scheduled to engage in a fresh round of bilateral talks in Riyadh on Monday. Russia has stated that the talks will focus on exploring the prospects for implementing the initiative aimed at ensuring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, referencing the grain deal.
According to Anadolu Agency, the grain agreement was initially signed in July 2022 in Istanbul by Turkey, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine. Its purpose was to restart grain exports from Ukrainian ports, which had been halted due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict that began in February 2022. However, on July 17, 2023, Russia withdrew from the deal, citing the non-implementation of the Russian component of the agreement. Russia has been seeking the easing of banking restrictions and the ability to ship its fertilizer as prerequisites for rejoining the agreement.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin, expressed that Moscow is keen on discussing Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to renew the initiative. He stated that Moscow is prepared to address the various details associated with the issue. Peskov emphasized the complexity of the negotiations by pointing out the numerous nuances involved. He noted that when UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres previously acted as the guarantor of the Black Sea deal, Russia fulfilled its obligations, but the obligations towards Russia were not met, leading to the anticipation of difficult negotiations.
Peskov also commented on a phone conversation between Putin and US President Donald Trump on March 18, describing it as taking place in a trusting, frank, constructive, and working atmosphere. He remarked that the current tone of Washington's rhetoric is more appealing to Moscow compared to that during former President Joe Biden's administration. Russia sees potential for mutually beneficial cooperation with the US in various areas.
Peskov underscored the significant influence of the United States on global politics, cautioning against underestimating its impact. He stressed the complexity of resolving the Ukraine conflict and expressed skepticism regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's promises, questioning the reliability of his words. Additionally, Peskov criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's comments about possibly extending France's nuclear umbrella to other European partners, labeling them as dangerous.