MFA: Russia to rejoin grain deal only if regains access to SWIFT, foreign assets

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin has said the grain deal can be resumed only if the systemic conditions set by the Russian side are met and only if the agreement is in line with the stated humanitarian goals.

He made the remarks in an interview with TASS.

“Our position remains the same, that is, first, solving systemic problems: reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT, resuming supplies of spare parts, establishing transport logistics and insurance, restoring access for Russian companies to their foreign assets, only after that, considering the possibility of reviving the Black Sea initiative, and only, I emphasize, in accordance with the declared humanitarian goals,” Galuzin said.

The senior diplomat noted that one of the reasons for the Russian leadership's decision to curtail the Black Sea initiative was Kyiv’s use of the maritime humanitarian corridor for military purposes, including terrorist attacks on Sevastopol and the Crimean bridge, sabotage against Russian warships and civilian vessels.

"The main reason, which we have repeatedly spoken about, including publicly, is the lack of progress on the implementation of the Russia-UN memorandum on the normalization of domestic agricultural exports. The memorandum has never worked because of the persistent unwillingness of Washington, Brussels and London to make real, not lip service, exemptions from their illegal unilateral sanctions on Russian fertilizers and foodstuffs," the deputy foreign minister added.

Moreover, Galuzin emphasized that the American corporation Microsoft supports Kyiv and acts to Russia's detriment.

"Microsoft is one of those companies that have tarnished themselves not only with anti-Russian rhetoric but also with concrete steps to the detriment of our state. Since the very beginning of the 'special military operation,' this corporation has been providing various kinds of support to the Kyiv regime under the pretext of strengthening its cyber defence. Moreover, it regularly accuses Russia of organizing computer attacks on Ukrainian resources,” he continued.

According to the diplomat, "no evidence is given, and Microsoft keeps silent about the facts of systemic cyber sabotage against Russia's critical infrastructure”.

"All this once again shows that the brainchild of [Bill] Gates is obediently building its activities in line with US political guidelines," the senior diplomat concluded.