Russia is now urged by the UN chief to return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The United Nations leader said this when he attended the UN Food Systems summit in Rome on Monday, July 24. 

Russia Urged by UN Chief to Return to Black Sea Grain Initiative

(Photo: Androniki Christodoulou - Pool/Getty Images) U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres holds a bilateral meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (not pictured) on the sideline of the G7 leaders' summit on May 21, 2023, in Hiroshima, Japan. The G7 summit will be held in Hiroshima from 19-22 May.

According to Reuters' latest report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the Russian government to go back to the grain deal. 

"With the termination of the Black Sea Initiative, the most vulnerable will pay the highest price," he explained. "When food prices rise, everybody pays for it," he added. 

Guterres also said that the decision of Russia to quit the Black Sea Grain Initiative is devastating for vulnerable countries that are having difficulties feeding residents. 

The UN chief even sent a proposal to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a final effort to save the deal. 

Guterres sent the letter on July 11, suggesting that Russia extend its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. He added that the Russian government should at least allow four ships to travel to Ukraine and four ships leaving. 

Guterres added that if Russia accepts this proposal, Rosselkhozbank, the country's Agricultural Bank subsidiary, will be reconnected to the SWIFT global payment systems. 

This is a great bargain considering that Russia has been demanding to restore the connection between the SWIFT payment systems and Rosselkhozbank, which has been cut off in June 2022 by the European Union. 

"I call on the Russian Federation to return to the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, in line with my latest proposal," said Guterres via CNA. 

The remaining question is, will Vladimir Putin accept the proposal of the UN leader?  

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Will Putin Accept UN Chief's Plea? 

(Photo: GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via a video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on April 19, 2023.

Based on the statements recently provided by Putin, it looks like Russia will not return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative any time soon. 

The Russian leader explained that the continuation of the grain deal already lost its purpose. Putin is quite confident despite the increasing prices of wheat, soybeans, corn, and other grains. 

The Russian president said that they will replace Ukrainian grain both commercially and free of charge. He added that they can do this since Russia is expecting a record harvest this 2023.  

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