​​​​Kremlin says it is discussing renewal of grain deal with US in Riyadh

The Kremlin has revealed that the focus of discussions with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia is the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, from which Russia withdrew in 2023.

According to the Russian Interfax news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the US and Russian delegations at the meeting in Riyadh are discussing "the Black Sea Initiative and all aspects related to the resumption of this initiative".

"It was President Trump's proposal, and President Putin agreed to it. It was with this mandate that our delegation went to Riyadh," he commented. [N.B. European Pravda doesn't recognise Putin as president – ed.]

"But, if you remember, its previous version had a fairly large share of commitments to our country that were not fulfilled last time. So this will also be on the agenda today," Peskov said.

In July 2022, with the mediation of Türkiye and the UN, the Black Sea Grain Initiative was agreed upon, which created conditions for grain exports from Ukrainian ports.

In July 2023, Russia withdrew from the agreement, claiming that its requirements were not being met. Despite Russia's threats, this did not block further exports from Ukraine by sea.

Last year, Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine's Ambassador to Türkiye, commented that Ukraine was not ready to return to the same conditions, including the inspection of ships departing from Ukrainian ports, if the grain deal was renewed.