United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in an exclusive interview with the Russian News Agency a few days ago that the United Nations is working hard to clear obstacles for Russia's grain and fertilizer exports, and many European ports have sent positive signals to the United Nations.
In an exclusive interview broadcast by RIA Novosti on the 17th, Guterres said that Russia's grain and fertilizer exports are absolutely essential to alleviate market shortages. "We are working hard to create conditions to remove all obstacles that affect these exports."
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said that after Russia and Ukraine reached agreements on the export of agricultural products with the United Nations and Turkey respectively, only 3% of the grains exported from Ukrainian ports were shipped to poor countries; at the same time, only European Union countries could buy Russia. As for fertilizers, Russia is still unable to export fertilizers to Asian, African and Latin American countries via European ports.
Around this issue, Guterres communicated intensively with EU leaders this week.
He said that the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands and the port of Kotka in Finland have sent positive signals to the United Nations, and the United Nations is discussing with Antwerp in Belgium and Hamburg in Germany.
Guterres also mentioned that he will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the general debate of the UN General Assembly next week to discuss issues such as the situation in Ukraine, Russia's food and fertilizer exports.
"While my schedule is still changing, I can tell you that of course we will meet," Guterres said.