Guterres To Meet With Russian FM Lavrov Monday Amid Concern For Grain Deal

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York on Monday as concern grows that Russia may abandon the UN/Turkey-brokered Black Sea grain deal.

• Politico reported yesterday: "...a letter from Russia to the Joint Coordination Committee of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, seen by POLITICO, warned that ship registrations would only continue until May 18."
• "It also appeared as a veiled threat that Russia’s military could start attacking commercial ships in the Black Sea after that date, no longer bound by the safe passage rules of the agreement. “It will make [it ]possible to avoid commercial losses and prevent possible safety risks,” read the letter, dated Wednesday."
• US National Security Council spokesperson said yesterday: “Russia is increasingly obstructing the operations of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, threatening the progress made on food accessibility over the last year. It is imperative that Russia stop using the world’s food as a weapon in its war on Ukraine, which contributes to food insecurity around the world."