Turkish FM does not consider Russia’s claims on implementation of grain deal groundless

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that, according to Ankara, Moscow’s claims to the implementation of the grain deal are not groundless.

He also said that his country is negotiating an extension of the deal, including the participation of Turkish banks as intermediaries in paying for Russian grain and fertilizers.

“We are negotiating the extension of the grain deal. The issue must be resolved and the agreements extended. The deal has so far been extended by the Russians for 60 days. They want their expectations to be met. We cannot say that the Russians are wrong,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with a Turkish newspaper Hurriyet.

Cavusoglu added that Türkiye is still negotiating with the participants in the grain deal. According to him, UN Secretary General António Guterres “knows the situation very well.” “We explain it to the US and the UK. Because both of these countries are key in banking matters. The inclusion of the Russian Agricultural Bank in the SWIFT system is connected with them,” he said. Cavusoglu added that António Guterres took the initiative to use Turkish banks as intermediaries.

The grain deal ends on May 18. One of Russia’s key requirements for its extension is the reconnection of Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT international payment system.

On April 26, Reuters, citing a source from the Russian side, reported that the American bank JPMorgan Chase & Co. received permission from the US government to process payments for Rosselkhozbank. According to the interlocutor of the publication, these payments cannot be used as a replacement for SWIFT. According to Reuters, the US State Department and Treasury have asked JPMorgan to conduct a “very limited and highly controlled” agricultural export deal. The deal went through in April. The UN did not refute the agency’s information, but declined to provide any comments.