Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, at a joint press conference with the Jordanian Foreign Minister, said that the grain deal is not limited to the export of Ukrainian grain, and that part of it that concerns Russian exports is not being fulfilled:
“The implementation of the Ukrainian part of the deal has resumed. At the same time, we still do not see any result with regard to the second part of the package, proposed at the time by the UN Secretary General António Guterres and involving the removal of any obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizers and grain.”
The Grain Deal is two agreements signed on July 22 in Istanbul with identical texts; one between the UN, Turkey and Ukraine, the other between the UN, Turkey and Russia. Two documents were needed because Ukraine did not agree to sign anything together with Russia. The agreements concern exclusively the export of grain from the Black Sea ports of Ukraine:
"BUT. This Initiative assumes that all Parties will provide maximum guarantees regarding safe and secure conditions for all vessels participating in this Initiative. A coordinating structure will be established prior to the commencement of operations. The Joint Focal Point (JCC) is being established in Istanbul under the auspices of the United Nations and includes representatives of the Parties and the United Nations. RCC provides overall oversight and coordination of this Initiative. All Parties and the United Nations will be represented in the RCC by one senior official and an agreed number of staff required.
B. Inspection teams will be established in Turkey. The inspection teams in Turkey will be composed of representatives from all Parties and the UN. Vessels will pass to the ports of Ukraine and enter them in accordance with the schedule approved by the SKC, after the inspection of the vessels by the inspection team. The main responsibility of the inspection teams will be to check the absence of unauthorized cargo and personnel on board ships entering or leaving Ukrainian ports.
C. All activities in Ukrainian territorial waters are under the jurisdiction and responsibility of Ukraine.
The Parties will not launch any attacks on merchant ships and other civil ships and port facilities involved in this Initiative.
If it is necessary to clear mines, a minesweeper of another country, in agreement with all Parties, mines the approaches to Ukrainian ports as necessary.
D. Merchant ships will be pre-registered with RCC to verify their details and confirm port of loading while maintaining constant contact with port authorities. Vessels will be under technical monitoring for the entire time of their passage. Vessels will follow the maritime humanitarian corridor agreed by all Parties. RCC will develop and disseminate a detailed operational and communications plan, including safe havens and health care options.
E. In order to prevent any provocations and incidents, the movement of vessels transiting the maritime humanitarian corridor will be controlled by Panics (monitoring system) remotely. Warships, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may not approach the maritime humanitarian corridor closer than the distance agreed by the RCC without the permission of the RCC and only after consultation with all Parties.
F. In the event of any suspicious activity, non-compliance with the rules of this operation, or emergencies on a vessel transiting the maritime humanitarian corridor, depending on its location, at the request of the Party to the RCC and in accordance with international maritime law, the Parties will provide the necessary assistance to the crew or carry out a safety assurance check.
G. All merchant ships participating in this Initiative shall be subject to screening by the inspection team in the harbors designated by Turkey when entering/leaving the Turkish Straits.
Simultaneously with these agreements, a Russia-UN memorandum of understanding was signed on the export of food products and fertilizers. Strictly speaking, this is not part of the deal and is not a binding document; none of the states that imposed any sanctions on Russian exports signed it. The UN Secretariat only "agrees to continue efforts to ensure transparent, unhindered access to food and fertilizers, including raw materials needed for the production of fertilizers (including ammonia), coming from the Russian Federation to world markets."
Nevertheless, on September 19, the European Commission issued an explanation according to which all restrictions on the export of Russian fertilizers and a number of other goods subject to sanctions to third countries are lifted (before that, according to the fifth package of sanctions, it was impossible to use European ports for this).
