A first batch of Russian fertilizer that Latvia seized last year has been released and is being shipped to Kenya by the United Nations World Food Program, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday (22).
Russia has cited this seizure as a major obstacle to extending the deal allowing Ukraine to export grain in the Black Sea.
A vessel left the port of Riga, capital of Latvia, on Friday (21) with part of the 200,000 tons of fertilizers seized, the ministry said.
Other ships are expected to carry the remainder of the fertilizer, which was seized in March 2022, a ministry spokesman said.
Russia has indicated it will not allow the Black Sea export deal, negotiated by the UN and Turkey in July 2022, to continue beyond May 18 because a list of Russian demands to facilitate its own grain and fertilizer exports has not been met. .
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly cited fertilizer stuck in Baltic Sea ports as one of the main obstacles to continuing the deal.
The Latvian government described the shipments as a “donation” as “support for countries affected by the food crisis triggered by Russia’s war against Ukraine”.
It was not immediately clear whether Russia was happy with the shipment or whether it would increase the chances of an extension of the grain deal.
The move comes ahead of a meeting in New York next week between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and UN Secretary General António Guterres to discuss the grain deal, among other issues.
Lavrov has previously said nothing has been done to address Russia’s concerns.
Most of the fertilizer seized in Latvia is owned by companies Uralchem ​​and Uralkali URKAI.MM, according to market sources and data seen by Reuters.
The companies were controlled by Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, who relinquished control last year after the European Union sanctioned him in March 2022 as a “member of Vladimir Putin’s closest circle”.
The Uralchem-Uralkali Group said in February that it intended to donate more than 34,000 tonnes of fertilizer stored in Latvia to Kenya.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
