Russia says it expects “difficult negotiations” and believes that “the main subject” will be the “recovery” of the cereal agreement in the Black Sea
“This is a very complex subject and there is a lot of work to do. We are only at the beginning “said spokesman for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov, on Russian television, about discussions aimed at reaching an end of conflict in Ukraine, on the eve of talks in Saudi Arabia.
Expecting “Difficult negotiations”Mr. Peskov said that, for Moscow, the “Main subject of discussion” Monday would be the resumption of the cereal agreement in the Black Sea, which was in force between 2022 and 2023, and allowing Ukraine to export its cereals, vital for world food.
Russia had withdrawn from it after a year, deploring that Westerners do not respect their commitments intended to soften the Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers. “Our negotiators will be ready to discuss nuances around this problem”continued Mr. Peskov, qualifying the questions of Moscow on the subject of “Many”.
The Russian president’s spokesman did not speak, in this interview, of the full-fire-free request validated by kyiv and promoted by Donald Trump. Nor did he mention a limited agreement on a cessation of hostilities aimed at the energy infrastructure of the two belligerents, as agreed between Mr. Putin and the American president, during their telephone call earlier this week.
Regarding bilateral relations with the United States, Dmitri Peskov praised the rapprochement driven by the two leaders since mid-February and their resumption of contact. “We can disagree on one point, but that does not mean that we had to deprive ourselves of mutual advantages”he said, evoking “Common sense”.
“We believe that the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in a large number of areas is difficult to estimate between our two countries”added Mr. Peskov. The Kremlin spokesperson, however, claimed to expect that“No sanction [contre la Russie] born [soit] lifting “ shortly.
Source: Lemonde