17 July 2022

3 minute read

The United States on Thursday sought to facilitate Russian food and fertiliser exports by reassuring banks, shipping and insurance companies that such transactions would not breach Washington's sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, reported Reuters. 

Enabling those Russian exports is a key part of attempts by the United Nations and Turkish officials to broker a package deal with Moscow that would also allow for shipments of Ukraine grain from the Black Sea port of Odesa, which have been blockaded by the war.

The written US clarification came a day after Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and UN officials met in Istanbul for talks aimed at resuming Ukraine's grain exports. Turkey announced that the parties would return next week to sign a deal.

"The United States strongly supports efforts by the United Nations to bring both Ukrainian and Russian grain to world markets and to reduce the impact of Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine on global food supplies and prices," said the US Treasury Department in the factsheet.

The war in Ukraine has sent prices soaring for grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertiliser, stoking a global food crisis.

Eduard Zernin, head of the Russian Union of Grain Exporters, described the US move as "an act of goodwill" and a "real step in the fight against world hunger."

"We sincerely hope that other countries involved will follow this example and issue the necessary clarifications and licenses in order to remove hidden sanctions that hinder the supply of grain to countries in need," he told Reuters.

RUSSIA, UKRAINE KEY SUPPLIERS

Russia's 24 February invasion and blockade of Ukraine's ports has stalled exports, leaving dozens of ships stranded and some 20 million tonnes of grain stuck in silos at Odessa.

Moscow has denied responsibility for worsening the food crisis, blaming instead a chilling effect from Western sanctions for slowing its own food and fertiliser exports and Ukraine for mining its Black Sea ports.

Ukraine and Russia are major global wheat suppliers, and Russia is also a large fertiliser exporter, while Ukraine is a significant producer of corn and sunflower oil.

The US Treasury made clear that the sale and transport of agricultural commodities, as well as medicine and medical devices, was allowed and would not be breaching a raft of sanctions that Washington has imposed on Russia.

Washington also stressed that there were no sanctions on Russia's production, manufacturing, sale, or transport of agricultural commodities, including fertiliser, and that providing insurance or reinsurance for the transportation or shipping of those products was not prohibited.

Imports of Russian fish and seafood to the United States are banned under Washington's sanctions.

As the UN-led talks got underway in May to revive Ukraine and Russian food exports, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield had said Washington was prepared to give written assurances -- known as "comfort letters" -- to shipping and insurance companies in relation to Russian exports.

Source: Reuters