Russian fertilizers which have been blocked at an EU port, due to Ukraine-related sanctions, will be shipped next week, the UN announced on Friday.
The world's largest country is a key producer of the materials and the uncertainty around supply has heightened fears about food insecurity, particuarly in poorer nations.
The 20,000 ton cargo has been held in the Dutch port, Rotterdam, and is destined for Malawi, under the UN World Food Program.
Following a meeting between senior UN officials and a Russian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin on Friday a UN statement confirmed it “..briefed on recently issued General Licenses and shipments of fertilizer to developing countries’ destinations and its ongoing engagement with private sector and member states. It is anticipated that the first shipment of donated fertilizers will depart for Malawi in the coming week.”
The meeting centered on Russia’s continued dissatisfaction with UN efforts to lift Western sanctions that pose problems for Russia’s agricultural exports. The organization pledged to assist Russia back in July as part of a UN-brokered grain deal, which unblocked the export of food and fertilizers from several Black Sea ports. Russia said it may choose not to extend its participation in the deal, which is set to expire on November 19, if the UN does not follow through on its promises regarding Russian exports.
Russian fertilizer giants Uralchem and Uralkali have confirmed to RT that a humanitarian supply of fertilizers had been cleared to be loaded onto a World Food Program (WFP) ship. According to the statement, a batch of 20,000 tons of complex fertilizers will be sent via Mozambique to Malawi during the week starting November 21, 2022.
“As the world’s leading fertilizer producers, Uralchem and Uralkali believe it is time for everyone involved in solving the food security problem to come together,” Uralchem chief executive Dmitry Konyaev stated. He added that “access to the essentials of the food chain – which begins with fertilizer – should not be politicized. On the contrary, we must work hand in hand to ensure that supply remains uninterrupted.”
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin said that a total of 300,000 tons of Russian fertilizers were stuck at EU ports due to Western sanctions. In September, he said that Russia was prepared to give these fertilizers to developing nations free of charge.
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