Polish farmers gather as they protest at Lithuanian border, alleging Ukrainian grain transports are brought back into Poland as ‘EU’ grain, and against European Union ‘Green Deal” near border crossing at Polish Lithuanian border in Budzisko, Poland, March 1, 2024. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

Poland urges EU sanctions on Russian, Belarusian farm products

Polish farmers have been protesting EU environmental regulation, competition from Ukrainian imports

Poland plans to ask the European Union to put sanctions on Russian and Belarusian agricultural products as it seeks to meet the needs of protesting farmers, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday during a visit to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.


Moscow has made multiple demands for an extension of the Black Sea grain deal.

West still has time to solve grain deal issues: Russian diplomat

Russia wants agricultural bank reconnected and machinery and parts restrictions lifted

The West still has time to remove “obstacles” hindering the implementation of the Black Sea grain deal before a deadline on May 18, senior Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov said April 14. The Black Sea grain export deal was renewed for 60 days last month, but Russia has signalled it may not agree to extend it

Commercial vessels  –including vessels which are part of the Black Sea grain deal — wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi during a misty morning in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

U.S. pushes back against Russian demands linked to Ukraine grain deal

Russian food, fertilizer already carved out from sanctions, U.S. says

United Nations | Reuters — The United States pushed back on Russian demands that Western sanctions be eased before it allows Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports beyond mid-May, saying there were no restrictions on Russian agricultural products or fertilizer. Moscow’s demands include allowing the Russian Agricultural Bank to return to the SWIFT banking system and


Vessels are seen as they await inspection under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the UN and Turkey, in the southern anchorage of the Bosphorus at Istanbul on Dec. 11, 2022. (File photo: Reuters/Yoruk Isik)

Ukraine Black Sea grain deal extended for at least 60 days

UN, Turkey not yet specifying extension's duration

Ankara/United Nations | Reuters — A deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain was renewed on Saturday for at least 60 days — half the intended period — after Russia warned any further extension beyond mid-May would depend on the removal of some Western sanctions. The pact was brokered with Russia and

Commercial vessels  –including vessels which are part of the Black Sea grain deal — wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi during a misty morning in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

UN backs Turkey, Ukraine in call for 120-day grain deal rollover

Text of original deal calls for 120, UN says

United Nations | Reuters — The United Nations backed Turkey and Ukraine on Thursday by calling for a 120-day rollover of an agreement allowing the safe export of grain from several Ukrainian Black Sea ports after Russia said it would only extend the pact for 60 days. The pact is due to expire on Saturday.


Commercial vessels  –including vessels which are part of the Black Sea grain deal — wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi during a misty morning in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Russia suggests renewing Black Sea grain deal for shorter term

Moscow says sanctions have created barriers for its exports

Geneva | Reuters — Moscow is suggesting to renew a deal allowing the safe export of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports — but only for a period of 60 days, half the term of the previous renewal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Monday. Vershinin’s statement came after talks with U.N. officials



File photo of a train in Belarus. (Dimarik/iStock/Getty Images)

Belarus to allow Ukraine grain transit with no preconditions, U.N. says

Belarus still wants sanctions lifted off fertilizer

United Nations | Reuters — Belarus told the United Nations on Friday that it would allow, without preconditions, the transit of grain from Ukraine through its territory for export from Lithuanian ports, a U.N. spokesman said. Belarus, used by its ally Russia as a staging ground for Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, said in