MOSCOW
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Russia supports the resumption of the Black Sea Initiative in a form that is “more acceptable to all parties.”
Lavrov, in an interview with Russian media in Moscow, said the issue was a key topic during Russian-US talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday.
“We are in favor of resuming the Black Sea Initiative in a way that better suits everyone,” he said.
Lavrov stressed that the main obstacle to the deal’s revival is a lack of trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Our position is simple — we cannot take this man’s word for it,” he said.
Lavrov explained that Russia seeks a stable and predictable grain and fertilizer market, ensuring no external forces attempt to sideline Russia in those sectors.
Moscow, Lavrov added, is particularly concerned about the food crisis affecting Africa and other nations in the Global South, which he attributed to Western interference in global trade.
The Black Sea Initiative, also known as the “grain deal,” allowed the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports and lifted sanctions hindering Russian agricultural products and fertilizer exports. The Russian side of the deal was never fully implemented, leading Moscow to refuse an extension in July 2023.
