The United Nations and the Russian government are engaging in discussions aimed at increasing Exports of Grain and Fertilizers from Russia to the global market to address the growing global food crisis, Reuters reported on June 1. Senior U.N. official Rebecca Grynspan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov recently had "constructive discussions" on the issue, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Reuters.

Russia is facing draconian economic sanctions from the NATO Alliance in response to the February 24 invasion of Ukraine that prevented Ukraine, one of the world's largest grain exporters, from transporting agricultural commodities from its ports. While economic sanctions do not target specific Russian grains and fertilizers, transportation and insurance companies are reluctant to engage in shipments while sanctions are imposed, he told Reuters Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

She said the United States is prepared to send "comfort letters" to these companies to help facilitate exports of Russian grain and fertilizer. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for economic sanctions to be lifted against his country so that Russia, the world's largest exporter of wheat, can increase its agricultural shipments.

Russia is also in discussions about the termination of its blockade of Ukrainian ports to allow the estimated 20 million tons of grain stored in these ports to reach the global market. Leading these negotiations is Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who is one of the few world leaders to maintain good relations with Ukraine and Russia during the conflict.

Source: Agrolink