The U.S. Treasury Department issued a document on the 14th, claiming that Russian agricultural products, agricultural equipment and medicines are not within the scope of U.S. sanctions, and that the U.S. side supports efforts to alleviate global food shortages.
The Russian side refuted that the United States was the "initiator" of the global food crisis.
The document provides so-called "further clarification" in the form of questions and answers: the US sanctions do not include Russia's import and export of agricultural products such as fertilizers, and financial or insurance institutions can facilitate such transactions.
At the same time, the U.S. Treasury Department expanded the scope of authorization for transactions involving Russian agricultural products, agricultural equipment, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
According to the document, the US sanctions prohibit the US from importing fish and other seafood originating in Russia, but do not restrict the import of Russian seafood by other countries and regions.
The U.S. Treasury Department said the U.S. side supports the efforts of the United Nations to enable Ukrainian and Russian grain to be shipped to world markets and reduce the impact of the Ukraine crisis on global food supplies.
In an interview with Reuters, Eduard Zernin, chairman of the Union of Russian Grain Exporters, called on other Western countries to follow suit, make necessary clarifications and issue relevant licenses.
Konstantin Kosachev, vice-chairman of the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament), said on the 15th that the U.S. move was not out of goodwill towards Russia. crisis.
Russia is a major exporter of grains and fertilizers.
Affected by the sanctions of Western countries, Russia has a shortage of large cargo ships, and there are also obstacles in insurance and finance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in late May that Russia was ready to contribute to overcoming the global food crisis by exporting grain and fertilizers, but only if the West lifted politically motivated restrictions.
Putin said at the time that accusing Russia of the supply of agricultural products in the international market was "groundless" and that "the current difficulties are related to the disordered operation of the industrial chain and supply chain, as well as the financial policies of Western countries during the epidemic."
The U.S. release of the document comes a day after Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations made progress in Ukrainian grain export negotiations in Turkey.
According to the news released by the Turkish side, the agreement is expected to be signed next week.
Reuters reported that allowing Russia to export grain and fertilizers is a key part of the deal the United Nations and Turkey are seeking to reach with Russia, and a written statement from the U.S. side will allow banks, shipping and insurance companies to not worry about conducting related transactions that violate U.S. sanctions.
Russia and Ukraine are both major global exporters of wheat and corn.
The Ukrainian crisis disrupted the operation of ports, superimposed on the impact of Western sanctions, a large number of grains were stranded in southern Ukrainian ports and could not be shipped out, and the global food crisis intensified.
Ukraine and Western countries have accused Russia of blocking ports and hindering food shipments.
Russia denies interfering with Ukraine's grain exports, accusing Ukraine of laying mines in the Black Sea that endanger the safety of navigation.