UN calls on Russia's Putin to extend Black Sea grain agreement: Report
livemint.comReuters reported. Currently, the last two ships under the agreement are being loaded with cargo at the Ukrainian port of Odesa before the deadline. Moscow has made a significant request for the re-establishment of connectivity between the Russian agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, and the SWIFT international payment network.
The European Union had severed ties with the bank in June 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In May, an EU spokesperson stated that the reinstatement of Russian banks was not under consideration. However, discussions are reportedly underway within the EU to potentially link a subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT, specifically for the purpose of facilitating grain and fertilizer transactions.
Three sources familiar with the matter shared this information with Reuters on Wednesday. As of now, the European Commission has not provided an immediate response to requests for comment. According to two sources familiar with the discussions, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has suggested to President Vladimir Putin that Russia extend the Black Sea grain deal for several months.
This proposal would allow the European Union sufficient time to connect a subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT international payment system. On Tuesday, Guterres sent a letter to Putin outlining this proposal, aiming to facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports and ensure the uninterrupted shipment of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea. A spokesperson from the United Nations confirmed these details on Wednesday.
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