U.S. Seeks to Ease Russia Sanctions Concerns as Ukraine Grains Deal Negotiated

The United States tried Thursday to facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports by assuring banks, shipping and insurance companies that such transactions would not violate sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine invasion.

Allowing such Russian exports is a key part of efforts by the United Nations and Turkish proxies to negotiate a package with Moscow so that Ukraine can ship its grain from the Black Sea port of Odessa.

The US written clarification came a day after Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and UN representatives met in Istanbul for talks aimed at resuming Ukraine’s grain exports.

Turkey announced that the parties would return next week to sign a pact.

“The United States strongly supports United Nations efforts to bring both Ukrainian and Russian grain to world markets and reduce the impact of Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine on world food supplies and prices,” the Department said. of the Treasury.

The conflict has soared the prices of grain, cooking oil, fuel and fertilizer, fueling a global food crisis.

The invasion and confinement of Ukrainian ports by Russia on February 24 have paralyzed exports, leaving dozens of ships stranded and some 20 million tons of grain stuck in Odessa silos.

Ukraine and Russia are the world’s leading suppliers of wheat, and Russia is also a major exporter of fertilizers. Ukraine, meanwhile, is a major producer of corn and sunflower oil.

The US Treasury made it clear that the sale and transport of agricultural products, as well as medicines and medical devices, were allowed and would not violate a series of sanctions that Washington has imposed on Russia.

Washington also underlined that there are no sanctions on Russia’s production, manufacture, sale or transportation of agricultural products, including fertilizers, and that it is not prohibited to provide insurance or reinsurance for the transportation or shipment of those products.

Imports of Russian fish and seafood to the United States are prohibited by Washington sanctions.

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