Ukrainian cereals: Putin and the UN chief discuss the agreement and the problem of fertilizers
The UN-chartered ship "Brave Commander" in the Ukrainian port of Pivdenny during the loading of cereals, Sunday August 14, 2022. © VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS
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In a telephone conversation on Wednesday, September 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres discussed Russian food and fertilizer exports.
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One week before the UN General Assembly, and as the war in Ukraine has taken a new turn in recent days, the Secretary General met on Wednesday, September 14 with Vladimir Putin.
They discussed possible "
extension and expansion
" of
the July 22 grain deal
which is set to last 120 days.
Two ships full of grain destined for global food aid were sent to Yemen and the Horn of Africa a few days ago.
Two others are being loaded for Djibouti and for Afghanistan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled that Ukrainian grain should go "
in priority
" to the countries that need it most, not to the EU, which he has previously accused of receiving most of it, which Kiev denies.
"
We will have a food crisis if we do not regulate the fertilizer market
"
Antonio Guterres also asked the Russian president to resume fertilizer exports.
Russia says its own food and fertilizer exports continue to suffer from Western sanctions targeting Moscow.
A crucial question for planning next year's food distributions.
"
If in 2022 we don't have a food problem, but a distribution problem, in 2023 we will have a food crisis if we don't fix the fertilizer market,
" he warned.
We are already receiving reports from West Africa and other parts of the world that farmers are cultivating less than in previous years.
And that is why it is essential that we normalize the fertilizer market.
And this is also the reason why I strongly call for the removal of all obstacles to Russian fertilizer exports, which are, I repeat, not subject to sanctions.
»
"
There are discussions on the possibility for Russia to export ammonia
via
the Black Sea
", indicated Antonio Guterres.
Ammonia, which is used to produce nitrogen fertilizers, is produced itself by combining nitrogen from the air and hydrogen from natural gas.
Several European fertilizer manufacturers have ceased production due to soaring gas prices.
"
The fertilizer situation in the world is dramatic
", insisted Antonio Guterres,
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