US eases path for Russian exports amid the Black Sea truce deal
The USA aims to assist Russia in regaining its foothold in agricultural markets, but the Kremlin is expecting some sanctions to be lifted. However, certain restrictions are contingent on the European Union. "It appears these 'parasitic' Europeans are being urged to 'rescue' the United States in its diplomatic surrender to Russia," remarked journalist Michael Weiss. The European Commission has stated that it does not plan to remove the sanctions.
The White House announced on Tuesday, the agreement between Russia and Ukraine to ensure safe navigation on the Black Sea. Nevertheless, this is just one of several agreements reached during the recent talks in Riyadh.
It's been highlighted that the USA has consented to assist Russia in "will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions".
This agreement has ignited much debate. Although Russian grain and fertilisers are not subject to US sanctions, since 2022 Rosselkhozbank, a state bank involved in the agricultural sector, has faced restrictions.
The Kremlin noted in its statement that the cessation of hostilities in the Black Sea will come into effect precisely after the lifting of sanctions on Rosselkhozbank and "other financial organisations involved in the international food and fertiliser trade." Moscow also seeks the removal of restrictions for food producers and exporters, as well as Russian ships that transport them.
Russia will benefit, Ukraine will not
"US Statement on the Riyadh talks is out. Gains for Russia are apparent (facilitating Russian exports through the Black Sea). Gains for Ukraine are not. Russia slow walking process. US should not play that game.," wrote former US ambassador to Poland, Daniel Fried.
Journalist Michael Weiss of The Insider noted that fulfilling Russia's demands hinges on the EU's consent to reconnect the Russian Agricultural Bank to SWIFT. He suggested that Europeans, seen by some as a burden, are now being called upon to step in and support the United States as it backs away diplomatically from its stance on Russia—referring to remarks made by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance in a private Signal chat among U.S. officials.
Russia asserts that the condition for the agreement on safe navigation in the western part of the Black Sea is the prior removal of a series of sanctions on Russian agricultural product exports, the import of technology for the Russian agricultural economy, and the free operation of merchant ships transporting agricultural goods from Russia as well as production apparatus to Russia. If this is achieved, it would mark a victory for Russia, the aggressor, assessed Professor Grzegorz Skrukwa from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań in an interview with PAP.
"FT": EU will not lift sanctions on the Russian bank
However, it seems that Russia can only continue to hope for the restrictions to be lifted for now. According to the "Financial Times", the European Union has rejected Russia's plea to lift sanctions against Rosselkhozbank.
Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission on international relations, emphasized that the EU's main objective continues to be applying maximum pressure on Russia through all available means, including sanctions, according to comments made to the Financial Times.
Ukrainian army on Russia's accusations: it's propaganda
