Staff Writer
According to South Africa on Thursday, African officials interested in the peace negotiations over Ukraine have demanded the opening of Russian grain and fertilizer exports in order to restore the agreement on grain shipments through the Black Sea.
According to Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the group has also urged the United Nations to take action to free 200,000 tonnes of Russian fertilizer that have become trapped in ports of the European Union.
During the discussion, Magwenya told a press conference in Pretoria, “Leaders called for specific measures to remove barriers to Russian grain and fertilizer exports, allowing for the resumption of full implementation” of the Black Sea agreement.
Last month, Russia pulled out of a UN-mediated agreement that allowed Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea, causing grain prices to soar and severely impacting the world’s poorest nations.
Regarding a different arrangement involving its own exports, particularly of fertilizers, Moscow is requesting guarantees.
Following discussions with Mr. Putin in St. Petersburg last week, Mr. Ramaphosa and six other heads of state, including Abdel Fattah al-Sissi of Egypt and Macky Sall of Senegal, called for the Kremlin’s demands to be met.
Russia has recently shelled ports in the Odessa region, which were essential for the safe transit of grain exports under the agreement.
Seven African nations are involved in a diplomatic effort to mediate a halt to hostilities between Kiev and Moscow, including Egypt, South Africa, and Senegal.
