By Rhod Mackenzie

Russian exports of agricultural products will not suffer if the “grain deal” is terminated.

This opinion was expressed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Interfax reports.

“I proceed from the fact that in any case, the export of our fertilizers and foodstuffs continues. Our partners, I am sure, will not suffer,” Lavrov said.

According to him, a little more than 2.5% of grain is exported to the poorest countries under the Istanbul agreements. In the event that the deal is terminated, Russia "will ensure the supply of a comparable or larger consignment of grain to the poorest countries at its own expense, free of charge," the Foreign Minister assured.

“I don’t see what arguments those who would like to continue this Black Sea deal have, because, as I said, it has long become commercial in terms of Ukrainian grain,” Sergey Lavrov emphasized.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was thinking about withdrawing from the "grain deal". The head of state pointed out that more than 40% of Ukrainian grain is sent to prosperous EU countries.

The "grain deal" was concluded in Istanbul on July 22, 2022 with the participation of the UN, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine for 120 days and was extended in November for the same period. The parties then signed two documents - the first involves the creation of a corridor for the export of products from three Ukrainian ports (Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny), the second refers to the removal of obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilizers.

In March 2023, the first part of the deal was extended by 60 days; the second part was not completed . In mid-May, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the agreements had been extended for another two months, the information was later confirmed in Moscow, recalling the "distortions" that needed to be corrected.

This article originally appeared in Russian at expert.ru