Russia Confirms Grain Deal Talks In Geneva On 13 March

Russian FM spox Maria Zakharova confirms talks on the Black Sea Grain Initiative between Russia and the UN will take place in Geneva, Switzerland on 13 March. This comes following a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on 8 March in Kyiv.

• The grain initiative, originally brokered by the UN and Turkey, is due to be renewed on 18 March if no party objects. However, Russia has raised concerns over its own ability to export grain via the Black Sea and could pull the plug on the deal. Zakharova states that 'if the Russian part of the grain deal is not implemented, then the forecast for its extension will be pessimistic.'
• This would deal a notable blow to the Ukrainian economy as well as risking a further spike in grain prices notably in North Africa and the Middle East, which are heavily reliant on Ukrainian and Russian grain.