ANKARA, Dec. 11 (Sputnik) -- Talks to resume the Black Sea Grain Initiative are unlikely to make near-term progress, but Turkey and the United Nations will continue to work in that direction, a diplomatic source familiar with the matter told Sputnik. Russian spokeswoman Zakharova previously said that once sanctions on Russian companies are lifted, the Black Sea initiative for the export of Ukrainian grain will be operational. "It is not only our side that is working in this direction, but also the United Nations," the source said. ”
In response to the question of whether it is possible to make progress in the negotiations in the coming days, the source pointed out that the negotiation process is difficult due to the principled positions of the parties. "Rapid progress is unlikely, but work is ongoing," he said. ”
Representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations signed the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul on 22 July 2022, which provides for the export of Ukrainian grain, food and fertilizers from three ports, including Odessa, via the Black Sea, with the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul coordinating shipping. On July 17, 2023, Russia notified Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations that it opposes the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, announcing that it will cease to be implemented when it expires the next day. Putin has repeatedly said that the obligations stipulated in the memorandum between Russia and the United Nations on removing obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizers have not been fulfilled, and the Istanbul package agreement has not achieved the purpose of providing food for poor countries in the African continent and other regions. The Food Initiative is part of the package. The second part is a three-year Russia-UN memorandum that provides for the thawing of Russian grain and fertilizer exports, and the main tasks include the reconnection of the Russian Agricultural Bank to SWIFT, the restoration of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services**, the resumption of the operation of the "Togliatti-Odessa" ammonia pipeline and a number of other measures. Moscow noted that this part of the package has not been implemented so far.