Reading Time: 2 minutes The European Union's sanctions on vessels transporting Russian grain, along with Turkey's wheat import ban, impacted Russian grain exports at the end of 2024, the country's central bank said on Thursday.
EU vessel sanctions weigh on Russian grain exports, central bank says
Poland urges EU sanctions on Russian, Belarusian farm products
Polish farmers have been protesting EU environmental regulation, competition from Ukrainian imports
Reading Time: < 1 minute Poland plans to ask the European Union to put sanctions on Russian and Belarusian agricultural products as it seeks to meet the needs of protesting farmers, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday during a visit to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
U.S. pushes back against Russian demands linked to Ukraine grain deal
Russian food, fertilizer already carved out from sanctions, U.S. says
Reading Time: 2 minutes United Nations | Reuters — The United States pushed back on Russian demands that Western sanctions be eased before it allows Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports beyond mid-May, saying there were no restrictions on Russian agricultural products or fertilizer. Moscow’s demands include allowing the Russian Agricultural Bank to return to the SWIFT banking system and […] Read more
Ukraine Black Sea grain deal extended for at least 60 days
UN, Turkey not yet specifying extension's duration
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ankara/United Nations | Reuters — A deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain was renewed on Saturday for at least 60 days — half the intended period — after Russia warned any further extension beyond mid-May would depend on the removal of some Western sanctions. The pact was brokered with Russia and […] Read more
UN backs Turkey, Ukraine in call for 120-day grain deal rollover
Text of original deal calls for 120, UN says
Reading Time: 2 minutes United Nations | Reuters — The United Nations backed Turkey and Ukraine on Thursday by calling for a 120-day rollover of an agreement allowing the safe export of grain from several Ukrainian Black Sea ports after Russia said it would only extend the pact for 60 days. The pact is due to expire on Saturday. […] Read more
Russia suggests renewing Black Sea grain deal for shorter term
Moscow says sanctions have created barriers for its exports
Reading Time: 2 minutes Geneva | Reuters — Moscow is suggesting to renew a deal allowing the safe export of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports — but only for a period of 60 days, half the term of the previous renewal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Monday. Vershinin’s statement came after talks with U.N. officials […] Read more
Russia says sanctions a barrier to Black Sea grain deal renewal
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Russia said Monday it would be “inappropriate” to extend the Black Sea grain deal unless sanctions affecting its agricultural exports are lifted and other issues are resolved. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed by Russia and Ukraine last July, created a safe corridor to allow grain to be exported from Ukrainian ports blockaded […] Read more
Belarus to allow Ukraine grain transit with no preconditions, U.N. says
Belarus still wants sanctions lifted off fertilizer
Reading Time: < 1 minute United Nations | Reuters — Belarus told the United Nations on Friday that it would allow, without preconditions, the transit of grain from Ukraine through its territory for export from Lithuanian ports, a U.N. spokesman said. Belarus, used by its ally Russia as a staging ground for Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, said in […] Read more
Canadian lawmakers plan Taiwan trip amid rising China tensions
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — A delegation of Canadian lawmakers plans to visit Taiwan in October to seek economic opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, Liberal MP Judy Sgro said Wednesday, a move that could further stoke tensions between China and the West. The relationship between China and the West has worsened since U.S. House of […] Read more
As Ukraine grain deal emerges, U.S. aims to ease concerns over Russia sanctions
Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters –– The United States on Thursday sought to facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports by reassuring banks, shipping and insurance companies that such transactions would not breach Washington’s sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Enabling those Russian exports is a key part of attempts by the United Nations and Turkish […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
