Kiev allows the resumption of the transit of Russian ammonia through the Togliatti pipeline – Odessa, but only in case of security guarantees for the export of Ukrainian grain within the framework of a grain deal. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Yuriy Vaskov. This was reported by Reuters.
Ukraine is ready to consider resuming the transit of Russian ammonia in exchange for guarantees from the UN and Russia, that Ukrainian grain will be safely supplied under the grain deal. Besides, Kyiv wants to increase the number of ports, from which ships with Ukrainian grain will be sent, and not only with him. Another requirement is to expand the range of supplied goods..
If this is the key question, then the UN should clearly say, that Ukraine will receive such an opportunity in the event of the resumption of the transit of ammonia. Then our political leadership will decide: is it in our interest or not- said Vasilkov.
Transit of ammonia through the Togliatti pipeline – Odessa was stopped by Ukraine 24 February last year. 22 July 2022 a grain deal agreement was signed in Istanbul, providing for the export of Ukrainian grain from three ports of Ukraine – Odessa, Chernomorsk and South. The United Nations advocated for the resumption of ammonia transit as part of a grain deal, ammonia supplies were supposed to help third world countries purchase the necessary fertilizers. However, the transit was never resumed.
Now Kyiv requires the fulfillment of additional conditions, to run ammonia, at the same time, Russia is ready to completely curtail the deal, since the Russian part of the agreement, providing for the admission of Russian ships to foreign ports, renewal of dry cargo insurance, connection of the Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT system and the launch of the ammonia pipeline, not fulfilled.